400,000 Children To Be Immunized As Cross River Commences Maternal And Child Health Week

By Ogar Monday

The Cross River State Government is targeting the immunization of about 400,000 children in the second round of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week says the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu at the flag off ceremony of the event Monday in Biase local government area.

The campaign which will see an increase in the supplementation of Vitamin A is targeted at pregnant women, children aged under five years said Esu who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong.

The children will also be vaccinated against measles and yellow fever, while pregnant women of child bearing age will be administered with Tetanus Toxide (TT), Dr. Asibong said.

Earlier, the Director General of the State’s Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Betta Edu who disclosed that the flag-off is taking place simultaneously across all the local government in the state, noted that the state has made it a deliberate policy for the program to reach the nooks and crannies.

She advised those present to utilize the opportunity that the week has presented, as the state has in recent times experienced an influx of migrants from Cameroon, a population the state government has taking into consideration.

The residents led by their Paramount Ruler, HRH, Onun Nicholas Odum commended the state and called for continuous improvement of the campaign.

Mr Odum who was represented by the Clan Head of Akpet 1, Obot Otey David, also averred that he will ensure that all those who are to benefit from the program are made to be on the know and utilize the benefits of the free health services.

The campaign is an initiative of the Federal Government and has financial backing from several partners including the World Bank, USAID and the WHO.