The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, has launched the 2025 Polio Outbreak Response Campaign.
This is according to a post on their official X handle on Monday.
According to the post, the ceremony, held at the Simpson Primary Healthcare Centre, was led by the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Sanwo-Olu.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs. Widad Jumoke Mustafa, a member of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), highlighted the critical importance of the campaign in preventing the debilitating effects of poliomyelitis, which can result in paralysis or death.
The First Lady called on parents, community leaders, and stakeholders to support the campaign by ensuring eligible children were vaccinated.
Targeting children aged 0-59 months, vaccination teams will administer the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to prevent virus transmission.
The Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi expressed gratitude to Lagosians for their continued cooperation in the fight against polio. While appreciating all healthcare workers and partners for their services, Mrs. Ogunyemi encouraged parents to present their children and wards for the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mrs. Omolola Rashidat Essien opined that Immunization was key in ensuring that children were kept safe from polio and other vaccine preventable diseases.
On his part, the Supervising Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Abimbola Bowale who also spoke at the event, underscored the life-saving importance of immunization.
“All children aged 0-59 months need multiple doses of the polio vaccine to ensure full protection. Any child missed represents a potential risk for the poliovirus to spread. The vaccine is safe, effective, and crucial in keeping our communities polio-free,” he said.
Dr. Bowale also outlined several strategies to ensure the success of the campaign, including fixed post teams stationed at primary healthcare centres and public health facilities, house-to-house visits, and a transit strategy to reach special locations such as places of worship, schools, motor parks, and other public venues.
The event concluded with Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Sanwo-Olu officially launched the campaign, marking a renewed effort to maintain Lagos State’s polio-free status.
