The Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State has kicked off another round of polio immunization/eradication awareness campaign in all the communities of the council. The kick-off exercise, which commenced on March 30, 2012, from the council headquarters at Isiokpo, had the presence of Hon. Bestman Amadi, the Executive Chairman of the council and also the supervisor for Health, Dr. Idawari Cookey Gam, Medical officer of Ikwerre local government area, and other health workers in the council.
Others include: the National Women Council of Nigeria, Ikwerre local government area chapter, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) brigade amongst others.
After Elele Town, the Polio sensitization exercise, proceeded to Omerelu, Apani, Omanwa, Ubima, Ozuoha, Omademe, Aluu and Omagwa, amongst others.
Speaking with media men at the Rally, Hon. Bestman Amadi, emphasized the importance of the National Polio Immunization Exercise and the need for the council’s decision to move from one point to the other, to ensure that parents are well-informed about the importance of the exercise.
Hon. Bestman noted that the reach out this time was more, compared to the previous one that was done at the council headquarters, which did not afford so many people the opportunity to be part of, believing that the high level of awareness that they have carried out this time will help them to do more.
Responding on the fact that Ikwerre local government area was among the local government areas in the state that has not done well in previous polio exercises, as indited by the Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, the Council Heath Supervisor, Hon. Bestman Amadi affirmed that the council did well by mobilizing over 5000 children, but were unable to meet to the demands of all the children, as a result of the limited vacancies that were available to them, then.
He noted further that the data that was presented to the governor at the end of the exercise, has made the governor to indict the council, adding that the performance of KELGA after that event has not been taken over by any local government area in the state, which according to Hon. Bestman is on record for anyone to see.
In the same vein, Dr. Idawari F. Cookey Gam, the health officer of the council, noted that they have started the event with a rally which has covered more than 13 communities in Ikwerre local government area, believing that the children will come out in their numbers to be properly immunized on the second day of the rally, having been sensitized.
Dr. Idawari believed that the provision of health facilities in the various communities of the local government area, will help to take care of the diseases that the children may be prone to.
By Blaise Elumezie
