From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Primary Health CareManagement Board, (RSPHCMB), has concluded arrangements to vaccinate residents ofthe state against yellow fever.
Speaking at a one day orientationmeeting with state social mobilisation officers and media practitioners in PortHarcourt, yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of RSPHCMB, Dr Harry Agriye, disclosed that the vaccination exercise willhold in two batches.
Dr Agriye also revealed thatbeneficiaries of the free vaccination will be between the ages of 9 months to44years across the 23 local government areas of the state.
He, however, noted that the cost of theexercise have been taken care of by the state government in partnership withWorld Health Organization (WHO).
He assured that arrangements have beenmade to ensure that no part of the state was left out and therefore, appealedfor the cooperation of all residents of the state.
“Yellow fever vaccine as I knowand as it has always been, is a one off vaccination. For the purposes of cost,manpower among others, we are doing it for people between 9 month of age and 44years old for now.
“We are going to break theexercises into two trenches in this state, but all the trenches will end in March 6, 2020.Yellow fever vaccine is not life threatening but very effective and potent. Onceanyone takes the injection, he/she does not need to bother about yellow feverfor the rest of her life,” the Perm Sec. emphasized
Earlier, in his remarks, Director,Community Health Services of the Board, Dr Isaac Opurum, stated that “the1st batch of the vaccination will start from February 14 – 23, while 2nd batchwill commence from February 26 – March 6, this year”.
Also, an official of the World HealthOrganization (WHO), Ugheighele Leonard, noted that in recent time, Nigeria hasbeen able to deal with yellow fever disease, adding that surveillance is veryhigh for the disease.
