African Vaccination Week: Edo First Lady Urges Parents To Protect Children

By Idahosa Musa

The Office of the First Lady of Edo State has flagged off the 2025 African Vaccination Week (AVW), with a charge for parents to immunize their children against preventable diseases.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Primary Health Centre in Eyaen, venue of the flag off, Mrs. Edesili Anani, Coordinator in the Office of the First Lady, said that immunization helps to protect children from life-threatening diseases.

She opined that if a child is sick, the entire family would be affected emotionally and financially, hence, the need for parents, especially mothers, to take immunization seriously to safeguard the health and future of their children.

“Immunisation protects children, especially those under five, from life-threatening diseases. 

“If your child is sick, the entire family is affected emotionally and financially,” she said.

 The coordinator while addressing misconceptions surrounding the immunization vaccines in some quarters, debunked myths about fertility and the vaccination, noting that she was immunized as a child and later gave birth.

“Vaccines do not stop you from having children. They save lives,” she said, encouraging parents to complete their children’s vaccination schedules and advocate within their communities.

In his remark, Dr Esiegbe Efeomon, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, highlighted the state’s commitment under Gov. Monday Okpebholo to strengthening health systems.

“New PHC structures have been built, and health workers employed to ensure better service delivery. 

“Immunisation builds children’s immune systems and saves lives,” he said.

The director also called for public cooperation ahead of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs), scheduled for May 3 to 5.

Also speaking, Dr Nora Eyo, Coordinator of World Health Organization in the state, reaffirmed the organization’s support and assured that vaccination teams would reach remote communities across the state.

She said vaccines to be administered during the campaign include those against polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis, measles, and yellow fever.