By Dare Akogun
Parents and caregivers have been encouraged to complete the immunization schedule of their wards and children to ensure they are safe from disease that affect infant in the first 5 years of life.
The advice was given by the state mobilisation officer Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency at a stakeholders engagement meeting to secure commitment and support for the roll out Rota virus vaccines, to tackle the Rota Diahoria disease today in Ilorin the kwara state capital.
She says the Rota Diarrhoea disease caused by the Rotavirus is most common in infants and young children of 3 to 35 months of age adding that older children can also get sick from rotavirus.
Dr Shittu who said the vaccine is the best way to protect the child against diarrhoea disease caused by rotavirus, and will be available in all health facilities during fixed and outreach immunization sessions.
Earlier in his remarks Director of Primary Health care Dr Micheal Oguntoye says the vaccine before now has not been in the National immunisation schedule despite the fact that it has been in existence for long.
Dr Oguntoye who revealed that government is making it available now, so that Kwarans and Nigerians as a whole can access the vaccine freely, enjoined Kwarans to take advantage of it by visiting any health care centre closest to them to get them for free.
He says the vaccine before now has not been in the National immunisation schedule despite the fact that the vaccine has been in existence for long.
He added that the coming of the vaccine was stepped down because of the COVID 19 virus which changed the course of many things in the world, but added that the vaccine has come to stay.
He enjoined community and religion leaders to embrace this vaccines and pass the message across to their followers on the need to support the agency by ensuring their wards are brought forward to get the vaccine.
The Chief Medical Director of Children Hospital Centre Igboro, Ilorin Dr Rafiat Folorunsho, advised parents that apart from making their wards available to collect the vaccines, should ensure hygiene is given high priorities.
She said the major causes of diarrhoea in teeth growing infants is unhygienic environment, she thereafter advise parents and caregivers to ensure that there environment is clean and they always wash their hands at interval.
The Rota vaccine will be introduced into Nigeria EPI schedule from the 22nd of August 2022.
About Rota Virus
Rota virus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in the children below age of five worldwide .
Though infections occur all through the year , in Nigeria studies show greater incidence in warm dry months.
The symptoms include fever, vommitting , watery diarrhea , which may be severe and a general feeling of being unwell. Infants who present with dehydration show symptoms and signs, including thirst, irritability, restlessness, sunken eyes, decreased skin turgor, sunken fontanelle (infants)Infants and young children are most affected, and diarrhea episodes typically last for about 3-7days.
The primary mode of transmission is faeco-oral, where the virus is passed in the stool of an infected individual to the mouth of another individual through direct contact or indirect contact with contaminated hands, surfaces, or objects such as toys.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Rotavirus disease can be diagnose in the laboratory by stool sample collection and testing using a commercially available test kit to rapidly detect rotavirus antigen in stool specimens. It is important to note that there is no treatment for rotavirus disease as with some other viral illnesses.
Diarrhea from rotaviruses cannot be treated with antibiotics or other drugs; it can only be prevented by prior administration of the Rotavirus vaccine.
Management of children who come down with diarrhea is largely symptomatic with a focus on rehydration, administration of zinc, and continuous feeding.
Rehydration should be by oral therapy or parenteral fluid administration, depending on the level of dehydration Mode of delivery.
Duration of Rota vaccine administration with other vaccines in the EPI schedule Children should get 1st dose of Rotavirus vaccine orally at 6 weeks with OPV1, Pental, PCV1, IPV1), 2nd dose at 10 weeks with OPV2, Penta2 and PCV2 and 3rd dose at 14 weeks with OPV3, PENTA3, PCV3 and IPV2Immunization and other important preventive measures against diarrheal disease caused by Rotavirus.Ensure your child completes her/his immunization schedule.
Also, personal and environmental hygiene, good nutrition including exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of a child’s life, hand washing with soap and water are all useful general preventive measures against diarrheal diseases caused by Rotavirus and other germs.
