Kano increases polio campaign coverage to 92%, says Gov Kwankwaso

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

Kano state government has recorded an increase in polio immunization campaign coverage from just 30% in 2012 to 92% in December 2013, the state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has revealed.

The state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said this on Saturday while distributing 200 tricycles to polio victims and empowerment/welfare packages to physically challenged people in the state.

He said the administration will not relent in this direction, pointing out that its target is to achieve 100% coverage by the end of 2014.

“Polio is a very serious social and health problem and we are determined to flush it out of our state”, the governor stressed, adding that in an efforts to alleviate poverty among Polio victims, the less privileged and to eradicate street begging in Kano state, his administration has so far empowered over 3,000 people with different disabilities.

Beneficiaries of the packages are 234 specially selected people with disabilities, out of which 100 got facilities to start the sale of recharge cards, 45 got offers of employment into the state civil service, 81 were given capital to set up provision stores, 53 were placed on a monthly social security allowance and 40 got capital and computer sets to set up business centers.

Five vehicles were given out to leaders of the physically challenges groups in the state.

Kwankwaso explained that the idea behind the gift was to “strengthen the capacities of people with disabilities and empower them to enjoy their rights and privileges like any other citizen of the state”.

The governor, noted with satisfaction, that the physically challenged community of Kano is now fully incorporated in virtually all life endeavours in the state, expressing the hope that government’s modest contributions will help in improving their living condition.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the governor on Disabled Matters, Yusuf Dala commended the state government for giving permanent employment to some physically challenged as well as empowering many physically challenged people and five buses to their leaders.

On his part, UNICEF representative, Mr. Panchanan Achari praised the Kwankwaso administration for taking enthusiastic steps to kick polio out of the state, adding that his organization would continue to partner with the government in that direction.

In their separate speeches on behalf of beneficiaries of the empowerment packages, Alhaji Ado Muhammad Bichi and Salisu Ishak Tudun Wada thanked the governor for the gesture and assured that their comrades will be enlightened to respect the law prohibiting begging in the state.