The Lagos State Government has intensified its campaign on immunisation, rallying council chairmen, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure that every resident is protected against preventable diseases.
The move follows the inauguration of the State Task Force on Immunisation and Primary Health Care Services on Tuesday at Alausa, Ikeja. The task force, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, is mandated to expand vaccine coverage and strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the state.
Dr. Hamzat, while commending the immunisation team for past successes, stressed the need for greater grassroots involvement.
“We want our religious leaders to use their sermons to inform people about the potency of vaccines. We also want our schools to recognise their role in ensuring that pupils are duly vaccinated,” he said.
He added that the state government would continue to increase budgetary allocation to primary healthcare, urging all stakeholders in the health sector to support the initiative.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described the task force as a vehicle to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
“Any community with a weak primary healthcare platform is destined to have a sickly community. Vaccines now eliminate infections that could lead to complications such as hepatitis, cervical cancer, and malaria. To improve uptake, our services and infrastructure must also improve,” he noted.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha, reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening governance, accountability, and routine performance across all local governments. He added that collaboration with the private sector would help improve coverage and ensure no resident is left behind.
On behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of Conference 57 and Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Hon. Sesan Olowa, pledged the support of all local government chairmen to the immunisation campaign.