Expert Raises Alarm Over Poor Immunisation In South East

Mrs. Onyemeh Helen Nnenna, a principal nursing officer with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, has raised the alarm at the declining rate of immunisation in the South East geopolitical zone of the country.

Quoting available statistics, Onyemeh disclosed that Imo State occupied the 9th position among the 36 states of the federation and the FCT in the 2017 nationwide immunisation exercise.

The health expert stated this at a one-day meeting of the Imo State Social Mobilisation Technical Committee (SOMTEC) held in Owerri during which she enumerated the aims and goals of the exercise to include reduction of the rate of illness, hospitalisation and death.

She attributed the worrisome situation to dearth of immunisation experts, epileptic power supply, poor funding of program activities by both the states and council areas, lack of mobility as well as low outreach services due to lack of funding, in addition to security challenges in some rural areas.

According to her, immunization, which commenced in the country 40 years ago, is primarily meant to take care of children and women of child bearing ages as well as those traveling to endemic areas.

To maintain the potency of the vaccine, she advised members of the public to always store it in cold chain stores and at prescribed temperature.

Onyemeh listed some of the immunisation effects to include, vaccine product-related reactions, vaccine quality effect-related reactions as well as immunisation error-related reactions and immunisation anxiety-related reactions.

To enhance immunisation coverage in the zone, Onyemeh called for active supportive supervision of the exercise, as well as increase and sustained outreach services, funding by the states and local governments, supply of more cold chain stores, collaboration with the church and community leaders, coupled with effective sensitisation of communities against immunization rumours.