By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
The Executive Secretary, Bayelsa Primary Health Care Board, Dr Appah Williams has called on all stakeholders in the health sector to promptly disseminate the message on yellow fever vaccination and mobilize people for the successful implementation of the program.
Dr Williams made the call during the awareness creation on Reactive Immunization Campaign against Yellow fever disease held in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He noted that the vaccination exercise which is scheduled to begin from Saturday 20th to Wednesday 24th July 2024 is targeted at persons between the age of 9months to 44 years, particularly for those who were not vaccinated in 2023 during the mass vaccination campaign held in the state.
” Recall that recently, there has been a declaration of outbreak of yellow fever disease in the state and to a large extent, the level of immunity from the 2023 mass vaccination campaign that was held in the state has lent a lot of prevention against the disease to those who received their vaccines then”
” To further increase immunity levels in the state against Yellow fever disease, a reactive vaccination campaign against the disease will be implemented in all wards in Kolokuma Opokuma and Yenagoa LGAs and selected wards with the highest burden of unimmunized persons in Nembe, Sagbama and Southern Ijaw LGAs”
He pointed out that during this period, all health centers in the implementing wards will be open to deliver immunization and other health services adding that trained health officers will be visiting churches, mosques, markets, parks and everywhere to vaccinate all eligible persons.
On his part, Director of Health Education and Promotion, Mr Sakurogha Sakurogha James emphasized that the vaccines are free, safe and effective in the prevention of the yellow fever disease adding that once taken, the vaccine gives ten years protection.
He appealed to all stakeholders to be proactive in ensuring that the campaign achieve its objective of reaching out to the target age group which begins from homes neighborhoods and other larger population found in public places.
Executive Director, WOMAN Lady Eunice Nnachi who was present at the meeting gave assurance of her commitment and support to the continuos sensitization campaigns in markets, churches and other places to ensure that many persons in the state take the vaccines.
In their separate remarks, UNICEF Rep Dr. Makio Perekeme, explained that, Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, mostly is the dessert region. Bayelsa state so far has recorded two cases of yellow fever, but if contacted a small percentage of patients may enter a toxic phase, leading to organ failure and bleeding, with a high mortality rate.
He advised that, vaccination is the most effective prevention method, providing lifelong immunity after a single dose.
Different stakeholders in the reactive meeting like World health Organization, National Primary health care Development Authority, M-RITE, Corona Management System, CMS, Eunice Nnachi Women Advocacy Network, ENWAF, Prissy foundation, Bayelsans Nongovernmental organizations forum, among others emphasizes the need for coordinated interventions, including community engagement, and mosquito control measures, to strengthen public health responses and prevent future outbreak.
