The seven high-risk local governments in Oyo State are Itesiwaju, Oyo West, Ibarapa North, Atisbo, Iwajowa, Saki West and Saki East. Akinrinade said the exercise which was targeted at 137.046 women recorded 91 percent coverage on the average, with the least coverage in Iwajowa local government put at 80 percent.

He said that five doses of trismus vaccination will confer full protection against the disease, and thus the next rounds of trismus vaccination in these communities to augment routine trismus immunisation in the state.

He added that apart from the shortage of health personnel and a poor state of health facilities in Nigeria, vaccination against diseases like tetanus was a reason many women in the reproductive age group still die.

Akinrinade charged that women should keep records of their tetanus vaccination, urging for increased support of people so that tetanus can be eliminated in Nigeria.

According to him,lots of women of childbearing age are ignorant of tetanus vaccination schedule. Majority of pregnant women do not attend antenatal care at health facilities.

Many deliveries still take place at mission homes, by traditional birth attendants and at home. The second dose of tetanus coverage is low. Also, traditional methods of cord care are largely done and exposing new babies to neonatal trismus.

Earlier, the state's Health educator, Mrs Bilikisu Olawoyin, stated that the target for the second 2017 round of Maternal Neonatal trismus Elimination Campaign was to achieve over 80 percent coverage.

At the sensitisation meeting which had many stakeholders, including community leaders and chairmen of the local governments, Mrs Olawoyin called for a suggestion to further increase tetanus vaccination coverage in the state.

Source:Tribune