Don stresses need for rotavirus vaccination

By Saheed Ibrahim
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In order to drastically reduce child mortality in Nigeria, the introduction of rotavirus vaccination into the National Programme on Immunisation has been recommended.

This recommendation was made by a Professor of Microbial Pathology, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, while delivering the first Inaugural Lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, titled: “Turning the Tides Against Infectious Diseases: The Microbial Pathologist’s Nexus”.

In his words: “Rotavirus is still a major killer of our children. The Federal Government of Nigeria has promised to incorporate vaccination against rotavirus into our National Programme on Immunisation.

The varsity don however noted that despite the promise, nothing has been done so far, thereby recommending that the vaccination should be incorporated in to the National Programme on Immunisation this year.

“ICT is usually headed by a Microbial Pathologist with the incorporation of nurses and medical laboratory scientists in effective prevention of HM. In addition, Infection Control Committee usually headed by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) should be on ground to support the ICT,” he stated.

On the high prevalence of malaria and its causative organism (mosquito) in Nigeria, the expert in infectious diseases emphasized that the use of insecticide treated nets must be encouraged and used extensively by all and sundry.

He also recommended that individual screening, vaccination and treatment of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) should be encouraged in order to decrease the transmission of the virus, which about 25 million Nigerians are currently infected with, and reduce the premature deaths associated with the disease.

He said: “This shows the need for more of governmental, NGOs, community and individual commitment to viral hepatitis elimination. Individual screening, vaccination and treatment should be encouraged to reduce the premature deaths associated with the disease.

Efforts should continue to be made in correlating viral loads and other clinical parameters with HBV serologic profiles in order to reduce the cost of patients’ management of HBV. Vaccination of HBV seronegative individuals in our environment will decrease transmission to health personnel and our people in our communities”.

He recommend that individuals with the diseases should make themselves available in order to save their lives and those of other members of our society, adding that more encouragement was still needed by our various government and other stakeholders in the health sector to support global viral hepatitis elimination.

The erudite scholar further noted that incessant agitations and inter and intra-professional rivalry have almost grounded the health sector in Nigeria, calling for collaborative efforts to end these menace and safeguard the health sector.

‘The impact of the health sector on the health and wealth of Nigerians is unquantifiable however, the leadership struggle and animosity within the health sector is giving way to anarchy, mutual suspicion, laxity and loss of lives of our precious people (patients).

“This is speedily destroying the health sector. Healthcare delivery is being destroyed. This is a wakeup call. All hands must be on deck”, he concluded.