…Sanwo-Olu’s wife reaffirms commitment to child health at Epe flag-off
…Targets full coverage, urges support from parents and communities
The Lagos State Government has launched the second phase of the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), deploying fixed and mobile vaccination teams across all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to boost child immunity and guard against a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The exercise was officially flagged off at the Epe Local Government Secretariat, signalling a renewed determination to maintain Lagos’ polio-free status and improve childhood immunisation coverage.
Representing the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr (Mrs) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu at the event, Chief Mrs Oluwatoyin Badejo affirmed the administration’s firm commitment to safeguarding children’s health. She noted that the state’s investments in modern hospital infrastructure and expanded primary healthcare centres had led to visible improvements in maternal and child health indices.
“Our healthcare system is undergoing real transformation. Through immunisation, free antenatal care, nutrition support, and the Ilera Eko health scheme, we are bringing quality care closer to the people,” she said.
Dr Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged the efforts of frontline health workers whose dedication has contributed to a significant reduction in maternal and infant mortality. She appealed to parents and community leaders to ensure no child is left behind in the immunisation campaign, describing it as both a civic obligation and a moral duty.
Providing details on the operation, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, mni, said the exercise will span four days, followed by two mop-up days to reach children missed during the initial phase, particularly in hard-to-access areas.
According to him, vaccination teams will function in three main streams: fixed posts at Primary Healthcare Centres, door-to-door outreach, and mobile stations at markets, schools, religious centres, and motor parks.
Dr Mustafa noted that the recent reappearance of polio in neighbouring countries underlines the critical need to sustain high levels of community immunity. He added that vaccination teams would also review child health cards and administer any missed routine vaccines, extending coverage beyond polio.
Also speaking, Dr Monsurat Adeleke, Permanent Secretary of Health District III, assured that the campaign would reach every household, including riverine and remote communities, which have already been mapped and assigned specific teams.
“Every child matters. No location will be left out,” she stated.
Other senior officials in attendance included the Permanent Secretaries for Health Districts IV, V, and VI, Dr Abimbola Bowale, Dr Dapo Asiyanbi, and Dr Abimbola Mabogunje, as well as the Vice Chairman of Epe Local Government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and representatives from market associations.
The Lagos State Government has appealed to all stakeholders, including parents, caregivers, faith institutions, and trade unions, to support the immunisation drive. The campaign is set to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children, reinforcing the state’s position as a national leader in disease prevention and primary healthcare delivery.
