The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released 7,000 doses of the Oral Cholera Vaccine to kick-start the vaccination exercise in Bayelsa state.
Coordinator of the World Health Organization in the state, Dr Marcus Oluwadare revealed that Bayelsa is the first state in the country to receive the Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV), which he said is safe for children above one year of age.
Dr Oluwadare who spoke while flagging off the exercise said the state government’s response to health emergencies has been impressive and called on other states to do the same.
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo appealed to the people to avail themselves of the vaccination campaign.
The governor who said the vaccines were safe, expressed gratitude to the WHO for its collaborative efforts with the state government in addressing health issues in the state.
According to him, it was as a result of the proactive measures and prompt response by the state government and all stakeholders in the health sector that the impact of outbreak of epidemics in the 6 states in the South-South zone was not felt in Bayelsa State.
The state’s helmsman also directed the Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai to create the necessary awareness about the need for the cholera vaccination as part of efforts to promote healthy living.
“l encourage Bayelsans and residents to go out en masse to get vaccinated with the Oral Cholera Vaccine because it is safe and has zero side effects.
“I commend Hon. Moses Marlon, member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 3, and his colleague, Hon Bonnie Ayah, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 1, who have demonstrated leadership by taking the vaccine.
“We urge local government council chairmen to also go to their headquarters to take the vaccine to show that the vaccine is safe. If you take this vaccine, for 3 years, you will not have cholera.
“Our health system is so resilient, robust and proactive that despite those episodes of the six layers of epidemics we had in the state, no life was lost in our state. But unfortunately, in other states, lives were lost.
“And so, we want to thank WHO, one of our partners, who have been supporting our health system. We are happy that WHO has continued to partner us in every inch of our response to any epidemic.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, expressed the government’s commitment to strengthen public health emergency response systems in the state.
He stressed the need to increase the uptake, noting that the state has not recorded any side effects from all the vaccinations including the cholera and the ongoing malaria vaccination exercise.
Highpoint of the flag-off ceremony was the administration of the oral vaccine on the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the lawmaker representing Southern Ijaw constituency Three, Hon Moses Marlon, his constituency One colleague, Hon. Bonny Ayah, Information Commissioner, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai and other top government functionaries.
WHO Flags Off Oral Cholera Vaccination In Bayelsa is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
