Edo government unveils Yellow fever reactive vaccination campaign

Edo State government has unveiled Yellow fever mass vaccination campaign, targeting 3 million people across 13 local council areas.

The project is in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The vaccination campaign, which commenced yesterday would continue till December 24, 2018, having as its target, people from ages 9 months to 44 years, who are resident in the identified local councils.

Director, Disease Control & Immunisation, at the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dorothy Nwodo, said the campaign would take place in identified locations in Etsako East, Esan Central, Esan West, Etsako West, Owan East, Uhunmwode, Egor, Igueben, Ikpoba-okha, Oriedo, Orhionmwon, Ovia North East, and Owan West local councils in the state.

Nwodo added that as at December 17, 2018, 20 cases of Yellow Fever had been confirmed, giving the breakdown as: Uhunmwode (14), Owan West (1), Owan East (2), Esan West (1) and Esan Central (1), Ovia North East (1) local government areas.

She disclosed that the figures were the largest number of Yellow fever cases confirmed in any single state, since the onset of the outbreak in Nigeria in September 2017.

Edo State Commissioner of Health, Dr. David Osifo, assured that the state was on top of the situation.

Zonal Director, NPHCDA, South-South, Dr. Utibe-Abasi Uruah, disclosed that a single dose of Yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer life-long immunity and protection against the disease.

Also, Zonal coordinator WHO South South Nigeria, Dr. Famiyesi Olubowale, promised the organisation’s continued support for the project.