Immunization exercise: Taskforce visits hard-to-reach communities

In demonstration of commitment towards ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated the ongoing immunization exercise in FCT, a coordinating taskforce, led by the Permanent Secretary of the FCT Administration’s Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Baba-Gana Adam, and the WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, visited hard-to-reach communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Gwagwalada Area Council, respectively.

The Taskforce, which  was joined by the Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Dr. Idris Musa, visited and inspected the exercise in several communities, including Rugan Ali village, in Gui Ward, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Anagada Community Primary Health Centre (PHC), and Tungan Maje Community PHC, as well as the Tungan Maje Ward, in the Gwagwalada Area Council.

Over one million children under the age of five are expected to benefit from the exercise, which is the first round of 2025 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) in Abuja.

It was gathered that during the visit,  the taskforce addressed vaccinators and their supervisors, enjoining them to strictly adhere to laid down  guidelines.

However, the taskforce assured  monitoring of the exercise will continue across all six area councils to ensure full compliance and to make sure no child is left behind in the fight against polio.

Recall that the campaign, which was officially flagged off on Saturday, will run till May 10, to allow healthcare workers administer potent oral polio vaccines on estimated target population across the six FCT Area Councils.

Also, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, had reiterated the urgency of improving immunization coverage to prevent childhood morbidity and mortality.