ANAOCHA PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES ORGANIZE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING 

By Chidimma Okoye/Ngozi Nnajiofor  :

In preparation for the forth coming Second Round Immunization Catch Up Exercise, Anaocha LGA has organized a stake holders meeting to ensure the maximum cooperation of communities in the LGA and to achieve total success at the end of the exercise.

Speaking at the venue, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Anigbogu, Director, Primary Healthcare services Anaocha said that the round two immunization catch up exercise was aimed to cover up areas that were not covered during the previous exercise.

She tasked stakeholders to intensify their campaign so that the LGA will not lag behind in the exercise.

Mrs. Anigbogu enjoined stakeholders to also educate the people on the likelihood of the occurrence of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), after vaccination like slight fever, vaccination site turning reddish, baby crying uncontrollably and how they will handle the minor situation.

In line with the zero tolerance for Polio Melitis in Nigeria, She called on all to be on the look for cases of children with fever, leg pain before or after injection as that may be a sign of Polio so that their faces sample will be taken free of charge for tests and possible diagnosis to save other children as against the lay man’s belief of every fever being caused by Malaria and Typhoid.

“After all these, we believe that our people will start consenting fully to immunization.

“We took immunization as kids and did not die, we grew up as adults, got married and had kids naturally,  why then should we deny our children immunization” Mrs. Anigbogu said.

Mrs. Jane Okpala, Anaocha LGA Health Social Mobilization Officer, urged stakeholders to always endeavor to show accuracy and honesty in their ward reports to make the work less stressful, saying that Agulu 3 did a great job with their last report ensuring the the pictures tallied with their write up.

“If your ward venue is not conducive for people to attend meetings, change it to your town hall and bring in necessary stakeholders to help achieve set goals as community partnership is essential,” she said.

The Anaocha Ward Development Committee Chairman Mr. Emeka Aneto, appealed to stakeholders to carry the seriousness of the forth coming immunization catch up down to their ward health centers, making sure that people are well sensitized and immunization well at the end of the day.

He also urged that they do proper documentation to achieve accurate interpretation, saying that the second round catch up immunization exercise is only for LGA who did not cover up areas well in the previous exercise.

*Chidimma and Ngozi are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*