By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, yesterday, in Benin, inaugurated the Edo State Task Force on Immunisation to improve the reach of immunisation activities in the state.

Inaugurating the task force, the governor said that his administration will ensure that every child between 0 to five years of age in the state was immunised against fatal diseases.

He said: “We are strengthening primary health care and one strategy is to get all children in the cities and hinterlands in the state immunised. In March this year, we achieved 75 per cent immunisation coverage, but that is not up to the national average of 95 percent. We will institute a mechanism to reach every mother with a newborn baby to ensure that no child is left out in our immunisation campaign.”

Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki

He charged the team to live up to its responsibilities and ensure transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties to ensure that the state achieves 100 percent immunisation coverage just as it has been polio free since 2009.

The committee has deputy governor of the state, Mr Philip Shaibu, Chairman and Commissioners for Health, Information, Education, Women Affairs and Social Development and Commissioner of Police as members.

Other members are representatives from the Edo Traditional Council, religious bodies, Department of State Services among others.

and State Immunisation Office. Director of the State Primary Health Care, Rotary Club, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPCDA, World Health Organisation, UNICEF and EU-SIGN.