Wife of Kwara State governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, has urged Nigerian women not to neglect issues affecting the health of their children.

Speaking at the flag-off of the second round of National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDS) at Okelele, Ilorin, at the weekend, Mrs Ahmed said the health of children should be a matter of priority for every caring mother.

Mrs Ahmed who charged the women to demonstrate their care by bringing out their children for immunisation, said the exercise represented a sure way of preventing childhood diseases that could hinder the growth and future of the children.

"The frequent repetition of NIPDS has become necessary because it is important for us to be more aggressive in the fight against wild polio vines (WPV) in every state of the federation," she said, adding that the political support given the NIPDS in the state has greatly enhanced the sensitisation and increased public awareness.

While calling on all stakeholders, service providers, community leaders, especially mothers, to do all within their power to ensure the immunisation of children in their area, Omolewa said government was fully committed to the success of the exercise.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Issa, had explained that the eradication of polio was a global project with the goal of achieving a polio-free world being championed by international and national stakeholders.

The commissioner assured again that extra polio vaccines were safe and asked mothers not to entertain fears contrary to widespread speculation about the vaccine in some quarters.

"The task of kicking out polio is a must and kicking out polio in Kwara is not a choice but a task that must be accomplished," he said, addong that, "polio is a dangerous disease that kills or cripples children for life, but this disease is preventable.

"This is why all women and caregivers are persuaded to make their under-five children available for vaccination in this exercise."