By P. Lincoln Nyanrue Jr., elincoln1986@gmail.com
The Ministry of Health and its partners have launched an Inactivated Polio Vaccine “IPV” in Grand Gedeh County. The vaccination consists of injectable and drops in used in babies’ mouths.
The “IPV” was launched by Mr. Olaska Wulu Barh, Administrative Assistant to the County Superintendent Peter L. Solo, who currently serves as acting superintendent of Grand Gedeh County.
Mr. Barh used the occasion to pledge local authority’s unflinching support to the health sector to save children from the crippling disease.
At the same time, the Assistant Routine Immunization Officer at the Expended Program on Immunization (EPI) at the Ministry of Health told the gathering that the new vaccination requires both parents’ collaboration so as to achieve what the international community has planned to make world polio free by 2020.
Matirankie Konneh said the inactivated vaccine was licensed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1955 and saved for the children vaccination to defend them from different types of diseases.
Meanwhile, children are vaccinated five times before turning one year old.
Matirankie Konneh thanked the government, community members and donors for their overwhelming supports to the Ministry of Health through which Liberia has made tremendous gains in fighting polio.
She mentioned that Liberia last confirmed polio case was reported in late 2010.
Konneh, however encouraged the public to join the Ministry of Health and partners to brink out their children for vaccination, saying they are the future leaders of this country and need not to be crippled.
The program was held at the main compound of the Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital on Monday, July 3, 2017. It brought together representatives of WHO, Partner in Health, District Health Officers, nurses and staff of MTMH, pregnant women, baby mothers, local authority, tribal leaders and media among others
