Kogi trains immunisation officers on vaccine management

THE Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KGSPHCDA) on Tuesday in Lokoja, commenced a three-day training on handling and management of vaccine, for immunisation officers across the state.
The participants at the training are Local Immunisation Officers (LIOs) and Cold Chain Officers (CCOs) from the 21 local government areas of Kogi State.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of KGSPHCDA, Dr Abubakar Yakubu, said the training was expected to equip participants with adequate knowledge on proper handling and management of Vaccine.
He added that the training would enable the participanta to avoid and reduce vaccine wastages through breakage, exposure to harmful temperature, VVM change and even expiration of vaccines in their custody.
According to Yakubu, the importance of keeping our vaccines sterile and managing them, both at the State and Local Government levels cannot be overemphasised.
”Vaccines are given to us free but they are not cheap and that is why everyone saddled with the responsibility of handling, storing and administering these vaccines must ensure proper handling procedures.
”At the State level, the Agency has been able to tackle the issue of poor or no power supply for proper vaccine storage by providing 25 tons Cold room and 100KVA Solar energy.
”So far, we are keeping vaccines at the recommended temperature.
”With the provision and recent distribution of Solar Drive Refrigerators (SDRs) to the LGAs, we implore you to emulate same gestures and keep vaccines stored properly.
”We are hopeful that we will receive more SDRs soon to be distributed to health facilities where they have none but are needed,” Yakubu said.
He noted that the Agency had planned a training such as this in the past, but was grounded for paucity of funds, while commending the UNICEF for their assistance in making the training a reality.
He said that a monitoring team had been put in place, warning that officers who displayed lackadaisical attitude to their responsibility would not be spared.
He, therefore, urged the participants to take utmost advantage of the training to update and upgrade themselves with knowledge to function at their best.
”The State highly appreciates UNICEF and other Development Partners who bore the expenses of this training and contributed to its success.
”We remain grateful and live in the hope that more support would be gained in the future”, Yakubu said.