By Kemi Olatunde

A 10-day yellow fever vaccination exercise will soon commence in 11 Local Government areas(LGAs) of Ondo State at designated posts.
The LGAs include; Akure North, Ifedore, Idanre, Ondo West, Ondo East, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Odigbo, Irele, Okitipupa, Ilaje and Ese-Odo.
To this end, the Executive Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency(OSPHCDA), Dr. Francis Akanbiemu has called on residents to avail themselves the opportunity to be immunised against the communicable disease.
He made the call during a one day preventive mass vaccine campaign on Yellow Fever with stakeholders in Akure on Wednesday.
Akanbiemu who was represented by Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Victor Adefesoye stated that it is important that people get informed noting that stakeholders must ensure that residents are sensitised on the upcoming event which holds between November 20 and 29, 2020.
Thanking all developing partners for their support, he stressed the need for stakeholders to disseminate the required information to the people they represent.
Giving an overview of the fever, Incidence Manager, Dr. Victor Adefesoye described it as an acute viral hemorrhagic disease which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and listed its symptoms to include; fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
He explained that it can only be prevented by an extremely effective vaccine which according to him is safe and affordable.
He stated that the targeted age group for the vaccine which will be administered on the right upper arm, is 9 months to 44 years noting that they account for the larger percentage of the total population.
Describing the vaccine as a life vaccine, he advised those who have been vaccinated before not to take it as there is no need for a booster dose.
Also speaking, Director, Community Health Service and Education, OSPHCDA, Dr. Samuel Abiona, expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their support towards delivery of qualitative health care at the PHC level in the state and stressed the need for all to play their role well in ensuring successful record at the end of the exercise.
In his goodwill message, UNICEF Vaccine, Security and Logistic in the state, Mr. Tunde Ayoade hinted that the state takes the lead in immunisation and called on government to sustain the tempo.
Describing yellow fever as one which has emerged as serious outbreak in september 2017, he stressed the need for the yellow fever campaign to be implemented in respect to the guideline of WHO.
However, he stressed the need for health workers to build enduring relationship with the people to obtain achievable success.
UNICEF consultant, Mrs Rebecca Akinduro listed the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders to include; awareness creation, monitoring, support, safety and result.
Speaking briefly with The Hope, State chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, (NMA), Dr. (Mrs) Stella Adegbehingbe encouraged the people of the affected local government to get prepared for the exercise.
Representative of the Pediatrics Association of Nigeria in the state, Dr.(Mrs) Omolayo Olubosede while speaking briefly with The Hope assured the people of the state of the safety of the vaccine especially in children.