Adamawa gov’t commences statewide polio immunization for children
From Umar Dankano, Yola
The Adamawa state government has commenced a four-day statewide polio virus vaccination exercise for children of zero to fifty nine months old.
Executive Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ADSPHCDA), Dr. Sulaiman Saidu Bashir disclosed the hint at a media engagement in Yola Weekend assuring citizens in the state that, his Agency has made adequate arrangements to cover all communities in the 226 political wards of the state.
Dr.Bashir said the polio immunization exercise which was Kick started on Saturday 11th will be concluded on the 14th November, 2023 noting that 1,256,845 children of zero to fifty nine months (0 to 59) age bracket are being targeted for the vaccination.
Bashir disclosed that polio immunization campaign is solely to build a reasonable and responsive immunity against the virus despite global available records of Nigeria’s certified zero level polio feat (status) since August 2016.
He observed that, to maintain the polio free status in Nigeria,strong immunity strategies against the virus need to be enhanced stressing that, the virus lives in the soil coupled with hygiene sanitation challenges as children plays bear footed which makes them vulnerable “immunilogically naive”.
He explained that the ongoing immunization exercise is the second in the series being undertaking by 1,811 teams across the 21 local government areas in the state urging residents to accord immunization officials maximum support and Cooperation.
“The Agency has dispatched 1,811 teams in all the 226 political wards across the 21 LGA’s with different strategies to ensure effective coverage of children between zero to fifty nine months of age.
“We are targeting 1.29 Million children in the ongoing immunization exercise including communities with pockets of security concerns,where we are using hit and run or gorilla strategy to reach out to them just to attain hundred percent (100%) immunity for children.
“Our people should understand that the vaccine is safe and effective been used every where in the world.
“Even though, Nigeria has been declared free of the virus but still migration of people to countries facing the polio virus cases like Pakistan,Afganistan,Ethiopia,and India can give room for bringing it in to the country”.He reiterated.
The chairman therefore appeal to critical stakeholders including traditional leaders, Development partners, Religious leaders, Academia and the media to support the campaign with a view to maintaining the strong immunity against the virus for our children.
