Towards achieving a Certified Polio Free Nation, Media has been asked to collaborate with the Health sector in educating the public on the benefits of allowing children participate in government free Polio Vaccination.
The Director of Disease Control Services in Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr Rowland Obed-Whyte,made the call during a sensitization meeting on Acute Flacid Paralysis (AFP) with media workers.
He identified partnership with the media as the best strategy to completely eradicate the health menace from the system saying that the Health sector alone cannot achieve the eradication of Polio in the society.
Dr, Whyte, who disclosed that there has not been trace of polio case in the state in the recent time, disclosed that the purpose for the meeting with journalists was to relate the roles and responsibilities the media plays in ensuring that Nigeria is finally certified polio free.
“Basically, the health sector feel that we cannot alone disseminate health information, the media is the key and that is why in this period of certified polio free in Nigeria, we need the services of the media.
“We invited you to have a media chat and to relate to you the roles and responsibilities you too have in helping the state ministry of health”, he hinted.
Dr Obed-whyte however regretted that the roles played by some Faith Based Organizations in indoctrinating their congregations against taking Polio Vaccines are encumbrances to achieving Polio eradication and called on the media to disabuse the minds of these reverend gentlemen through their reportage.
He further urged Faith Based Organizations to support Government in the complete eradication of Polio disease from the State and the Country at large by allowing children in their congregations be immunized during Polio Vaccination exercises.
