The Anambra government says it targets over 2.6 million children between 0-59 months as it begins an outbreak response exercise against the polio virus in the state.

Afam Obidike,  the state’s Commissioner for Health, made this known on Friday at the flag-off of the vaccination campaign in Awka.

The campaign is implemented by the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Enugu State Primary Health Development Agency recently announced the detection of a circulating variant of polio virus type-2 in a baby in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state. 

Mr Obidike said, “We are responding to the outbreak of polio virus in a neighbouring town, Nkanu West, in Enugu State.

“We have not recorded any case in Anambra, but the natural thing to do is to increase our vaccination to prevent the spread to the state.”

He urged parents and guardians to ensure their children were immunised against polio.

“We have also mobilised 660 fixed posts across the state, and we hope to reach and vaccinate about 2.64 million children to reduce the risk of polio spread in the state,” he stated.

Also speaking, Adamu Abdul-Nasir, state coordinator, WHO, appreciated the state government for its political will and proactive measures in preventing the polio virus from spreading to the state. 

In her remarks, Chisom Uchem, executive secretary, ASPHCDA, said the vaccination would start on September 16 and end on September 19 in all the local government areas of the state. 

“These few days, we will go all out to churches, mosques, schools and the nook and crannies of the state to look for children and get them vaccinated,” she said.

 (NAN)