Kemi Olatunde 

“The programme is highly commendable, and that is why we are lucky in Ondo State to have a caring governor who is passionate about the well-being of our children. This immunization will guarantee a healthy living for our children. It will prevent them from having their lives cut short by some diseases or sicknesses. Mothers in the state are grateful because this administration has constantly ensured that it gives priority to the issue of our children’s immunization. All we have to say is thank you to our ever-supportive Mr Governor.”

The above were the words of one of the mothers, Mrs Fale Kehinde, who was on the ground to immunise her baby during the flag off ceremony of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) at the State Specialist Hospital (Mother and Child hospital), Akure on Friday.

Another mother, a 27-year-old Faith Salifu, expressed appreciation to both the government and partners for ensuring the safety of children through the availability of vaccines, saying, “The vaccines keep helping our babies stay with us. We have our babies to ourselves because they are healthy as a result of the vaccination they take regularly.”

The importance of vaccination in the lives of children cannot be overemphasized, as it guarantees the healthy state of children. Vaccination prevents children from becoming victims of killer diseases; hence, most responsible governments invest heavily in ensuring that children get vaccinated as and when due against diseases to guarantee their future.

In Ondo State, truth be told, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has done well when it comes to vaccination in the state. He ensures the availability of vaccines and also their preservation by making appropriate funds available. The state Cold Chain store can be described as the best in the country, as it meets the world standard. 

His interest in the protection of well-being of the children under five years is the motivation for the unrelenting monthly financial support for uninterrupted power supply at the State Cold Chain Store to maintain the potency of the vaccines, hence the release of the sum of N49 million Naira for diesel purchase which was not a one off financial intervention. It is also worth mentioning the recent release of another N49 million for the completion of the office complex within the premises of the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

The Governor is aware that demand-creation for Routine Immunization among our people in the rural communities is regularly promoted through several strategic Immunization outreach sessions conducted by each of the 586 Primary Healthcare Facilities in the 18 LGAs of Ondo State, hence It is the resolve of his administration to continue to support these activities, so that the Supplementary Immunization Exercises like NIPDs will in no distant future become unnecessary.

Due to the Governor’s passion for the health status of residents, especially children in the state, he flagged off the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) just as he assured of his administration’s zero tolerance for polio.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, he stated that the exercise aims to engender a wider coverage of the Oral Polio Vaccination in the state 

He explained that even though Nigeria was declared Polio-free in August 2020, there has been a wide circulation of the vaccine, which has led to the continued spread of the polio type 2 (CVDPV2), most especially in security-compromised areas and hard-to-reach settlements.

According to the Governor, his administration has continuously supported the NIPDs and other Supplemental Immunization Exercises (SIAS) noting that the state has consistently been ranked among the best performing states, not only in the South Western zone but among the Non High Risk (NHR) States as a whole saying “this unquantifiable support is in line with our health policy that Routine Immunization (RI) activities in all our health facilities must be fortified to improve not only the coverage of Oral Polio vaccination in our State but all other antigens given as part of the Routine Immunization schedule at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks and 9 months after birth.”

He explained that the government has ensured consistent funding of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency to stimulate the 18 Local Government Areas Primary Healthcare Authorities to ensure that they live up to their responsibility of effectively curtailing Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the state to reduce neonatal as well as children under one year morbidity and mortality rate.

He expressed appreciation to frontline health workers for their dedication in keeping the children healthy and the community safe, calling on all stakeholders not to relent in their efforts in ensuring that all eligible children are vaccinated.

In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA), Dr. Francis Akanbiemu stated that exercise aims at ensuring that children are given life-saving vaccinations to prevent preventable killer diseases.

He revealed that the state ranks high in most immunisation activities in the country due to the support of Governor Aiyedatiwa.

He said that it will involve health workers moving from house to house, visiting markets, churches, schools, and rural communities to reach every eligible child, calling for the cooperation of all parents, caregivers, and community leaders.

Speaking on behalf of partners, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Adebayo Ibrahim, noted that the event symbolizes partners’ shared commitment to safeguarding the health of every Nigerian, particularly children. 

He commended both the Federal and State Governments, partners, healthcare workers, and communities for the remarkable progress made in the fight against polio, malaria, as well as strengthening routine immunization across the country.

He explained that despite Nigeria’s polio-free certification in 2020, there has been a resurgence of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVPV2), which remains a serious public health threat noting that in year 2024, Nigeria recorded 122 cVPV2 cases, and as of week 15 of 2025, 21 cases have already been confirmed across nine states saying “Oyo State has also been affected, with a confirmed case in Ogbomosho North.”

He stressed the need to urgently interrupt CVPV2 transmission nationwide and aim to achieve a CVPV2-free status by 30 December 2025.

He called on all to sustain and scale up high-quality polio vaccination campaigns, adding that there must be increased domestic funding for immunization and malaria control efforts.

He advised the government to integrate vaccination into essential health services and expand equitable access, strengthen primary health care, and ensure availability of proven malaria interventions, including next-generation nets, chemoprevention, effective treatment, and vaccines.

He called for collaboration among stakeholders in securing the future of children in the country.

About one million two hundred and six thousand seven hundred and seventy-one children  (under five) have been targeted for the exercise in the state

The exercise is expected to take place between May 2 and 7, 2025, including the mop-up days.

To ensure that the event records success, a stakeholders meeting was held earlier in Akure, where expected roles were spelt out to participants.

Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA), Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, described the exercise as a crucial one, noting that it is expected to ensure the healthy state of children.

According to him, it is rare to see a child come down with polio due to a mother’s gesture of embracing the best survival strategy for their children, which he said is immunisation.

 He expressed appreciation to the governor for his investment in the state health sector, especially the PHC system, noting that he increased the monthly subvention of PHC activities by 50 percent.

He said, “The PHC system provides over 70 percent of health services to residents. Recently, the Governor approved N50 N50million to power the cold chain system for vaccine potency. He has also released funds for the completion of the expansion of the office complex of the Agency.

“109 health centres are being renovated with Ondo State government and World Bank collaboration, in which the governor has paid the counterpart funding. His 100 days in office have been truly eventful.”

He commended stakeholders for giving priority to immunisation and the overall health of residents of the state, calling on them to give the best to the people to prevent contracting infectious diseases in the state.

Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Victor Adefesoye, in his welcome address, stressed the need for stakeholders to be adequately informed to encourage residents to present their children for the vaccination.

He also stressed the need for male involvement in the exercise, calling for their cooperation in ensuring adequate vaccination of children.

He called on the health committee to sensitise the communities before the commencement of the exercise, saying that it will involve both oral vaccine and injectable, and added that VIT A will be given to eligible children for the maintenance of good sight, brain, and skin integrity.

Speaking on behalf of partners, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Adebayo Ibrahim, stated that the success of the campaign depends on stakeholders and called for their collaboration.

While noting that the major antigen is Polio, he stated that Nigeria has eradicated the wide polio virus in 2020 and revealed that there are circulating variants of polio virus in the country, saying “we should be able to interrupt the transmission of the virus in the state. It was isolated in Oyo state recently.”

He assured that the vaccine safety would protect against the contraction of the polio virus, adding that the routine immunisation would also be given during the exercise.

In her presentation on Polio supplemental immunisation activities, State Immunisation Officer, Mrs Florence Fadiji, stated that community engagement with major stakeholders will enhance the success of the exercise, adding that collaboration with government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, as well as International organisations will encourage good achievement.

She explained that the oral polio vaccine, which is given orally, can be administered in health facilities, schools, mosques, churches, motor parks, and any other ongoing events.

She called on all to work together in ensuring the protection of children against polio and vaccine-preventable diseases in the state.