Obaseki Pledges N5m to LG with Highest Immunisation

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has announced that a prize of N5million would be given to any Local Government Council that would achieve the highest immunisation coverage in the state this year, adding that his administration would restructure the popular Oba Market located in the heart of Benin City.

The governor made the pronouncement when he flagged off the second round of the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) at Urhokpota Ground in Benin recently.
He said the state would be introducing an immunisation championship for LGAs to improve immunisation reach and uptake in the state, while urging parents and caregivers, especially mothers, to ensure that they immunise their wards up to 59 months.

“We will continue to strengthen immunisation as it provides a holistic approach to controlling of vaccine-preventable disease and reducing infant and child mortality. We will make immunisation service an integral part of our health care delivery”, Obaseki assured listeners.

The governor, who was accompanied by his Deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu and other top government functionaries, also visited Oba market where he revealed that a crèche and primary health care centres would be constructed across markets in the state to attend to the health needs of traders, as well as bringing healthcare closer to the people of Edo State.

“I have seen and inspected a space designed for clinic in Oba market, I will clean up the space and put a Primary health care clinic to cater for the health needs of the traders’ children and a crèche to take care of traders children”, he said.
He frowned on the phenomenon of street trading, which obstructed traffic, saying it was unacceptable and his administration would take drastic actions to curb the trend, while the market would be upgraded to encourage traders move into it.

“We need to improve the facilities within the market and get Oredo local government to do its job by ensuring that they clean up the market, install electricity and convenience facilities in the market so that people can trade in the market not in the street or walkways,” he said.