Tetanus : Oyo to vaccinate 80% reproductive females in 7 LGAs

Mrs Oluwakemi Olawoyin, State Health Educator, Oyo State Ministry of
Health made the disclosure on Tuesday in Ibadan at a sensitization
programme aimed at eliminating MNT from Oyo state.

“The general objective of the new vaccination exercise is to achieve
eighty percent for the three rounds of vaccination exercise across the
seven local government areas,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the three-round
elimination campaign would hold from September 11 to 19; October 20 to
24 and May 2018.
NAN reports that the seven Local Government identified as high risk in
the state are ATISBO, Ibarapa North, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Oyo West,
Saki East and Saki West.
Olawoyin  stated that government would implement the three focus catch
up rounds with TTCV in settlements located five Kilometre  or more
from a health facility in the seven high risk LGAs.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the international pact for the elimination
of Tetanus disease by 2015 but now in 2017. Seven local government
areas in Oyo State have been identified to be at high risk.

“In order to meet up with an international validation exercise, the
Oyo state primary health care board has now begun a three round of
vaccination exercise within the affected local government areas.

“We urge all females of reproductive ages within the council areas to
avail themselves the new opportunities,’’ she said.

She stated that findings of a reported data and field assessment has
revealed that five out of the six state in the south-west zone of
Nigeria are compatible with MNTE status except Oyo State.
“The hard to reach populations, like Fulani settlements of Oyo State
remained at risk for MNT. This was the findings from an assessment
programme conducted across the south west in May 2017,’’ she said.
Olawoyin, who noted that Nigeria was one of the 18 countries globally
that are yet to achieve MNTE, said that recent statistics indicated
significant drop in number of reported cases.
She charged Women of reproductive ages from 15 to 49 years and
pregnant women in the state to ensure they get proper immunization
against MNT
Olawoyin explained further the stages of immunization for all women of
reproductive ages and time for the three rounds of vaccination
exercise

She explained that lots of women of child bearing ages are ignorant on
Tetanus Diphtheria(TD), some engage in traditional methods of cord
care and majority of pregnant women don’t attend Ante Natal Care at
health facilities.

Mr Muideen Olalekan an Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and
representative of National Primary Health Care Development Agency
urged women within the reproductive ages to ensure that they
participate in new vaccination exercise.

Olalekan said that females withing the reproductive ages needed to get
themselves vaccinated for the five stipulated rounds to have live
immunity from MNT.

Some participants in separate interviews with NAN commended government
and the educators on the campaign, stressing the importance of such
sensitization and benefits.

They also pledged to support the efforts aimed at eliminating MNT
across the state and in the country.

NAN reports that maternal neonatal tetanus is a form of generalised
tetanus that occurs in newborns and infants who have not acquired
passive immunity from the mother having been immunised are at risk.

It usually occur through infection of the unhealed umbilical cord,
particularly when the cord is cut with a non-sterile instrument.

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