The Kwara State Government on Friday called on the citizens, particularly the parents in the state to present their children to be immunized so as to prevent childhood illness.

The call was made during the official flag-off of 2016 immunization exercise by the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Atolagbe Alege at Ilorin South Local Government Area with explanation that immunization prevents childhood illness, and disability among the children.

Atolagbe stated that outbreaks of preventable diseases occurred when many parents decided not to vaccinate their children. He said: "If children are not vaccinated they can spread diseases to other children who are too young to be vaccinated or to people's immune system. "The polio could be easily prevented with a free, safe and effective vaccine which a child has to receive at a period of time without any side effects."

The commissioner noted that the state had not recorded any case of Lassa fever which he attributed to the efforts of the health workers in the state. He therefore commended the state health personnel their contribution in making health care delivery effective and efficient in the state.

During her opening remark, the state immunization officer, Hajia Ajarat Sulaiman said the routine immunization was mainly for child from zero day to five years and called on parents to release their children for the exercise.