Benue State Government is targeting 1.3 million women of childbearing age for vaccination against tetanus.
The State Commissioner for Health and Human Service, Dr Joseph Ngbea, disclosed this, on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen said that the campaign on vaccination against tetanus which commenced on Monday was the third round of Maternal Neonatal Tetanus Eradication (MNTE).
The Commissioner said the state was carrying out the campaign in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and partners.
He added that the 5-day campaign was to ensure that all women between the ages of 15 and 49 years are vaccinated against tetanus.
Ngbea said that the MNTE vaccination campaign commenced from Monday, July 19 and would last till Friday, July 23, 2021, from 8 am to 2 pm daily in the 18 high-risk local government areas.
The council areas, according to the Commissioner are; Vandeikya, Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Ushongo, Kosnshisha, Makurdi, Guma, Gboko, Tarka, Gwer-East, Ado, Apa, Obi, Ogbadibo, Okpokwo, 0tukpo.
Ngbea said: “the Benue state government is fully prepared to implement the campaign with 1,300,000 doses of vaccine and corresponding logistics, 945 vaccination posts/teams with 4,000 trained health workers strategically located at health centres to ensure every eligible woman is vaccinated.
“To ensure adequate supervision of the campaign, 140 supervisors/monitors have been deployed to give technical support and ensure optimal implementation. The vaccination is safe and free,” the Commissioner said.
He advised all stakeholders, including religious and traditional leaders to support the campaign by mobilizing eligible women in their domain to health facilities from 19th to 23rd July 2021 to access vaccination to be protected against tetanus.
Source: Nigerian Tribune