No fewer than 131,815 under five children have been targeted for polio immunisation in Gombe Local Government Area.
Speaking on Friday, Aishatu Umar, Primary Healthcare Coordinator Gombe Local Government noted that the ceremony marks the beginning of National Immunisation Plus.
Our correspondent reports that beneficiaries are expected to get two drops of polio vaccine to build their immunity against the virus.
According to her, about 131,815 children would benefit adding that the vaccination was geared towards improving their living conditions.
She said, “Our target for the NIPs is 131,815 and Inshallah, can surpass it. As we have done in the past, where we passed our target, we are hoping this same thing that will happen in this round.”
While explaining the essence of the vaccination the PHC Coordinator said “We are witnessing the flagoff of National Immunisation Plus where under five children are given two drops of polio as preventive measure against polio virus. This goes a long way in giving them immunity against other diseases.”
Speaking further Umar added, “There are two phases the first started yesterday where our people go to the streets, markets, schools, to immunise our children with Direct Oral Polio Vaccine that is two days for the streets and from tomorrow they are going to start house-to-house. We will immunise all of them under five years. Any child above five is not an illegible child for this immunisation and during this time we used to give the mothers key messages they should look at like other vaccinations that are not given they can come to the hospital or any nearby primary healthcare facility and continue with their normal routine immunisation so that our children will be fully immunised so that we can be free from preventable diseases killing our under five children that is the main aim.
Also speaking, Shehu Wakili, Health Educator Gombe LGA, disclosed that about 133 teams comprising supervisors, recorders and announcers have been trained for the exercise.
He said, “In Gombe Local Government we have 133 teams each team has a supervisor, recorder. The supervisor can serve as the vaccinator and we have a recorder and community leader for house-to-house team. We have special team including the supervisor who serves as vaccinator, we also have recorder and town announcer. The town announcer goes around the community to mobilise the people telling how important the immunisation is.”
He called on parents to give the teams maximum support, “In the implementation of this round we know people of Gombe State and the LGA are understanding people,” he added.
On his part, Alhaji Usman Shettima, Shettima Gombe, who doubles as Senior District Head, called on traditional and religious leaders to give the vaccination exercise the maximum support.
Also, Overseer Chairman of Gombe LGA, Alhaji Aliyu Dawaki, said “The Local Government is ready to give the maximum support for this activity to succeed.”
