Adamawa targets 1,405,881 for polio eradication immunization

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

The Adamawa state government and United Nations Children’s Fund ( Unicef) are targeting to cover 1,405,881 children in all the 226 political wards of the state, the proposed polio eradication immunization in the state.

To this end,, they have urged parents and guardians to as a matter of almost importance forward their wards for the proposed polio eradication immunization in the state.

Health Officer of the Unicef Bauchi field office, Oluseyi Olosunde disclosed the development at a media interactive session in Yola Thursday stressing that the polio eradication immunization exercise scheduled for 26th to 29th April is a national routine exercise meant to boost the immune system of the age zero to five years old children.

Olosunde explained that the federal government through the National Health Care Development Agency (NHCDA) and the Ministry of Health has directed all states to embark on nation wide campaign on polio eradication to ensure every child is given appropriate vaccine according to their age.

Olosunde said based on available data, Adamawa state is polio free but was quick to add that it doesn’t mean that, precautionary measures in sustaining the reach wouldn’t be taken.

He reiterated that the Unicef Bauchi field office as a development partner to the state appreciates it’s effort in providing counterpart funding always adding that Unicef provided support in areas of vaccine doses,cold stores across the 21 LGAs and technical support as well.

In his submission,the executive chairman of the Adamawa state Primary health care development Agency, ADSPCDA, Dr. Bashir Saidu call on all critical stakeholders to contribute in making the exercise records a huge success.

Dr. Saidu announced that the polio immunization exercise is free and safe appealing to parents and guardians to avail their children from age zero to five years to access the polio vaccination for a better physical and mental health.

Saidu highlighted that 1,070 facilities, 2778 teams comprising of vaccinators, Recorders and Community mobilizers with another 74 additional teams for mob up, surveillance and follow up exercise have been trained for the four (4) days immunization exercise in the state.

He stated that the Unicef have already supplied 1,443,300 doses of the polio vaccine meant for zero to fifty nine weeks old children, as that the exercise is targeting to cover 1,405,881 children in all the 226 political wards of the state.

Dr Saidu appeal to all and sundry to play contributory roles with a view to ensure the desired outcome is achieved in the forthcoming coming exercise and other immunizations in the future as the need be.