JIGAWA TO IMMUNISE 1MILLION CHILDREN AGAINST POLIO

By NBF News

Over one million children are targeted to be immunised against polio myletis and other seven child's killer diseases in the ongoing four day vaccine exercise which commenced over the weekend across Jigawa state.

This was disclosed by the state deputy governor and Chairman, State's mobilisation committee on immunisation, Alhaji Ahmed Mahamud, while delivering his speech during the flagging off of the 2013 second round of polio vaccine exercise at Kanyababba town in Babura local government of the state.

Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud said, 'as part of the state government's commitment to ensure the success of polio eradication in the country and the world at large, the state increased polio vaccination teams from 767 to 2822 aimed at reaching all the targeted children in the state.

He said the state government has accorded special priority to polio eradication and other seven child killer diseases, and it is taking all necessary measures to ensure no single child's left uncovered during the vaccine exercise.

Alhaji Ahmad added that, 'As a result of the measures taken by the state government and support from the NGO, traditional rulers, religious and political leaders, parents and community leaders, the war against polio and the seven child killer diseases has recorded a remarkable success in the last six years.

'By what is going on now in terms of campaign for polio eradication, I am optimistic that the issue of polio disease would soon become history, while maternal and child death would be brought down to the minimal level,' the deputy governor said.

Speaking at the occasion, the state commissioner of Health, Dr. Tafida Abubakar, said according to reports presented at the recent meeting for the review of national health policy in Abuja, Jigawa state has been rated as first in terms of proper planning and implementation of polio eradication and malaria control in the country.

The health commissioner further stated that, 'Governor Sule Lamido has increased the state's Health ministry budget from N13.5 billion to N14.5 billion this year.

'All this is a clear indications and evidence of the present administration to provide effective health care delivery to all categories of people in all parts of the state.'

Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Gunduma health system in the state, Pharmacist Usman Tahir, disclosed that the state increased the number of adhoc staff recruited for the immunisation exercise from 5,369 to 19, 754 to achieve the desired goals.

He therefore called on parents to continue supporting the state government to achieve the fight against polio and other communicable and preventable diseases in the state and country at large.