The Secretary of the Nasarawa  State Social Mobilization  Committee on Immunization, Mr. Philip A. Akpu has called on mothers, care givers, and parents  to ensure that children below 59 months were immunized.

He made the call during a visit to the Nasarawa Publishing Company Ltd, headquarters in Lafia to solicit support from the media towards the integrated immunization Scheme  embarked upon by the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health , in collaboration with the national Primary Health Care Development Agency and International Development partners.

Mr. Akpu said the goal of the immunization was intervention so as to reduce morbidity and mortality rate from vaccine-preventable diseases such as T.B, measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. According to him, a child not fully immunized may risk developing  severe preventable diseases. He said that under the integrated programme, oral polio vaccine  and vitamin A was administered, as well as antenatal care services, nutrition screening and de-worming.

He called on parents and care givers to take full advantage of the integrated Maternal, Newborn  and Child week (MNCH) which comes up from the 19th -22nd of June 2010 , to be flagged off by the wife of the Nasarawa State governor, Hajiya Raliyah Aliyu Akwe Doma  on the 18th of June 2010, in Awe Local Government  between 6am-5pm daily.

He reminded parents on the need for proper nutrition  as under nutrition contribute to cause in over 60% of diarrhea deaths, 57% of malaria deaths and 52% of pneumonia deaths.

He canvassed for the proper care of newborns and early, exclusive and prolonged breast feeding  as well as the use of insecticide treated nets, safe water, sanitation and good hygienic practices.