Nsukka LG to immunise 70,741 children against disease

Mrs Angela Izugbune, National Immunization Officer with World Health Organisation(WHO), has appealed to parents to present their children for measles immunisation because measles can cause death or blindness in children.

Izugbune gave the advice at the commencement of a five-day measles immunisation campaign in Nsukka, Enugu State, on Saturday.

She said that the measles immunisation was meant for children between nine months and 59 months, adding that immunisation drugs were free of charge.

``Measles is one of the child killer diseases that occur mostly during heat period. It also causes blindness in children.``Parents should ensure that their children within this age blanket are immunised so as to fortify and free them from any measles attack.

``I commend Nsukka Local Government for the seriousness it always attach to immunisation of children, and urged the council to keep it up,” she said.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman, Prof. Rose Onah, said the council had made adequate arrangement to ensure that the immunisation reached all the targeted children.

``Health is wealth; the future of children can only be assured when he or she is healthy.

``The council has made adequate arrangement to ensure that all the targeted children for the immunisation are reached.

``I say special thank you to WHO in its relentless assistance at ensuring that children in the country are immunised from child killer diseases,” she said.The Immunization Facilitator in Enugu State, Mrs Maureen Nwankwo, said that about 70,741 chil1dren between nine months and 59 months in Nsukka would be immunized.

Nwankwo said that the five days programme would end on Monday.

``Over 30,000 children as at Friday have been immunised, I know at the end of today the figure will pass 50,000.

``Parents should take their children to nearest health centre, church or school where the immunisation is taking place.

Also, the traditional ruler of Ibeagwa-Ani, Igwe Aloysius Ezeugwu, said traditional rulers had mobilised their subjects to ensure that all targeted children were immunised .

``Traditional rulers of various communities have mobilised members of the community to ensure the success of the exercise,” Ezeugwu, Chairman of Nsukka Traditional Council, said.