The Anambra government said on Thursday that it would carry out a special immunisation for children and pregnant women from May 19 to May 23.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Akubuike, told newsmen in Awka that the exercise would run in conjunction with other routine services aimed at reducing neonatal, maternal and child mortality.
Akubuike said that Gov. Willie Obinao would inaugurate the exercise at Nibo in Awka South Local Government Area.
He said the exercise would target 887,533 children aged 6 months to 59 months, 197,427 children of zero to 11 months, 246,783 pregnant women and 1,085,847 women of child-bearing age.
“The week is a period of preventive routine outreach mechanism internationally to improve immunisation coverage with routine vaccines, Vitamin A and other child survival interventions twice every year,’’ he said.
Akubuike said the objectives included the provision of Vitamin A supplement to children, routine immunisation coverage and to give health education on key household practices.
The commissioner said that during the period, other cost-effective interventions would be delivered such as de-worming of children, nutrition screening and counselling for malnourished children.
Other services are antenatal care, HIV prevention information to young people and women, distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets, management of childhood illnesses and birth registration.
Akubuike said the vaccines were free, safe and effective and urged the caregivers to avail themselves of the opportunity and ensure that the children received the interventions.
He said the exercise would hold at the government health facilities, markets, churches, mosques and motor parks
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