The Lagos State Government has said 4.3 million children were immunised against childhood vaccine preventable diseases including polio during the March National Immunisation Plus Days, NIPDs, in the State even as it is targeting more four million children in the April NIPDs. Disclosing this last week, Special Adviser on Health to the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Yewande Adeshina said the March NIPDs had 96 percent coverage.

It is important to get babies immunised because when they are born, they have little or no immunity, so they are prone to infectious diseases. They have a little protection from their mothers’ immunity but that wanes within a short time. The time to immunise a baby is right from birth. There is an immunisation protocol that is followed. The vaccination protects them and prepares them for the challenges ahead from the infectious diseases that can occur.

Dr Babajide Puddicombe, the President, Malaria Society of Nigeria, (MSN) on Sunday called on the Federal Government to provide more funds to effectively tackle malaria scourge in the country.

Africare, an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) working in Eket and Ibeno areas of Akwa Ibom, says it spends $150, 000 yearly on malaria control programmes in the state.

Dr Dorothy Jeff-Nnamani is Managing Director/CEO, Novo Health Africa. Novo Health Africa is a Health maintenance Organization (HMO) in Nigeria with the mission to develop, provide and manage sustainable health care programmes, service and support systems through a dedicated team of professionals, ensuring quality and outstanding client servicing.