Kwara govt flags off week-long immunisation for 8 low performing LGAs
The Kwara Government on Monday commenced a weeklong local Immunisation and Integrated Service Delivery in eight low performing local government areas across the state.
The low performing LGAs are Baruten, Kiama, Ifelodun, Oke-ero, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Offa and Moro.
Speaking at the flag-off, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi said the programme was part of the activities marking the two years anniversary of the administration in office.
“The last two years have undoubtedly been challenging in terms of bringing healthcare services to the grass root and ensuring that every Kwaran get access to quality healthcare services they deserve.
“Our administration came in to meet a non-performing and poorly funded health system.
“The system was characterised by inefficiency mainly due to lack of ownership and political will by the previous administration,” he said.
Alabi however noted that survey had revelealed that six LGAs across the state are performing excellently well in immunisation and PHC.
It also showed that there was considerable improvement when compared to the assessment of the last administration where all LGAs in the state had very poor performance.
He noted that apart from the six LGAs, many others moved significantly in terms of performance from where they were previously.
The deputy governor explained that these gains are also evident during the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination in the country where the state was also adjudged the best in the country in both state of preparedness and coverage.
“Our administration has also consistently budgeted and approved payment of relevant counterpart funding to attract donors to support what government is doing within the health space.
“A functional and efficient Primary Healthcare system will give room for efficiency and value for money at the other levels of the health system.
“Our administration within the last two years have among other things selected over 20 primary healthcare centres for upgrading, all at various stages of completion across the state.
“We also established the State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre and provided adequate funding for its smooth operation.
“This is to sustain the gains of transmission of vaccine preventable diseases and revamping routine immunisation in the state generally,” he said.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq said that the importance of immunisation is part of the deliverables of democratic governance.
“And in the building of a healthy community that will be well protected against killer childhood diseases cannot be over emphasised.
“It should equally be contributing to the building of a healthier and stronger generation of youths,” he said.
Razaq however noted that the state government has employed a multifaceted approach that will ensure it tackles all facets of development in the state.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu said that huge investment on health sector by the state government have yielded great dividends.
“This tremendous achievement recorded in the state ranges from interrupting the outbreak of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus, the rapid decline of outbreak and the number of cases of vaccines preventable diseases,” she said.
Elelu also added that there is also setting up of a State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre, consistent counterpart funding of supplemental Immunisation activities, such as the National Immunisation Plus Days and Integrated Medical outreach, among others.
She explained that the weeklong intervention across the eight LGAs is to ramp up coverages on immunisation and other PHC interventions to ensure that people get optimal healthcare services irrespective of where they live.
According to her, a recent review showed the eight LGAs faltering in immunisation and PHC intervention.
