Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said on Wednesday in Ilorin that immunisation intervention has saved about 3 million people globally.
Elelu stated this during a news conference organised on the sidelines of the World Immunisation Week in Ilorin.
She noted that the week, themed: “Long Life for All”, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against diseases.
According to her, immunisation is one of the most successful and cost effective health interventions in the world.
The executive secretary stated that the government has vaccinated over 600,000 individuals against COVID-19 disease.
“We also vaccinated about 1,280,000 children with Oral Polio Vaccine.
“Vaccinations have also reached over 593,000 children with the life saving measles vaccines, among others,” she said.
Elelu said that the state government had further provided an enabling environment for immunisation and immunisation activities by making funds available for implementation of immunisation campaigns.
Read Also: WHO Halts UN Supply Of The Covaxin Vaccine By Bharat
She reiterated that immunization vaccines benefits beyond health outcomes, including averted medical costs and reduced time spent by parents and healthcare workers caring for the sick children.
“These savings accrue to families, communities and nations as improvements in education, economic growth and poverty reduction.
“Vaccines have been indiscriminately saving lives since 1796.
“The first Smallpox immunisation was a fight back against disease. For the first time, it gave everyone a chance,” she said.
Elelu therefore appealed to mothers and caregivers to make available their children and wards for immunisation.
She assured that Kwara has functional Primary Health Care facilities in each ward across the 16 local government areas of the state.