Date: 2019-10-04

World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNICEF has collaborated with the Kwara state government to eliminate maternal neonatal tetanus in selected 10 local government areas of the state.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, executive secretary, state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Patience Folorunso, said that a five-day immunization campaign programme would hold between October 12 and 16 in the chosen local government areas with low immunization coverage such as Asa, Baruten, Edu, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Irepodun, Moro, Oke Ero, Oyun and Patigi.

Dr Folorunso, who said that the programme would cover girls, nonpregnant and pregnant women between ages of 15 and 49 years, added that it would involve use of fixed and temporary posts such as identified health facilities, schools, churches, mosques, traditional rulers palaces, motor parks, markets etc.

Represented by director in the agency, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, the executive secretary described tetanus as a bacterial disease and one of the six childhood killer diseases, saying that neonatal tetanus is the leading cause of death in developing countries where a high proportion of deliveries take place at home or in places where hygienic conditions may be poor.

Dr Folorunso also said that inadequate maternal vaccination contributes to the occurrence of the disease, adding that unlike many other infectious diseases, tetanus elimination needs continuous vaccination programmes because the spores are widespread in soil and faeces.

"A newly born baby with tetanus has normal ability to suck and cry during the first two days of life and will be unable to suck normally and become stiff or has spasms between two and 28 days of age.

"Maternal tetanus, which can happen during pregnancy or within six weeks of the end of pregnancy, can result in miscarriage or abortion", he said.

Dr Folorunso said that immunization of women who are pregnant or of childbearing age ensures that children are protected at birth and reduces death from neonatal tetanus by an estimated 94 per cent.