The Kwara State Government is set to begin a four-day polio vaccination campaign from June 28 to July 1, targeting 1.2 million children across the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Professor Nusirat Elelu disclosed this on Friday while addressing journalists in Ilorin. She explained that the campaign is an extension of the ongoing Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) Week.
The polio vaccination exercise will involve door-to-door immunisation across all 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
“The campaign aims to deliver high-impact, low-cost health interventions to reduce illness and death among women and children in Kwara,” Elelu said.
In addition to the polio vaccine, the initiative also includes the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which will be administered at health facilities and outreach centres statewide.
The HPV vaccine will be given to 50,000 girls aged nine, particularly those who missed the national HPV introduction campaign held in 2024.
“This vaccine helps protect girls from cervical cancer,” she added.
Professor Elelu stated that the campaign aligns with recommendations from the National Council on Health and aims to reduce the high burden of disease among women of reproductive age and children under five.
She noted that MNCH Week offers a platform to scale up health services, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
The integrated services include:
- Routine immunisation
- Vitamin A supplementation
- Deworming
- Growth monitoring
- Nutrition screening for over 1.2 million children under five
Additional maternal health services will also be provided, including:
- Antenatal care
- Folic acid supplementation
- Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) for malaria prevention
- Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS)
Professor Elelu encouraged parents and caregivers to take full advantage of the campaign to ensure their children receive all necessary vaccines and health services.
