The Rotary International on Monday launched a statewide campaign in collaboration with Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Gombe State chapter to mark 2024 World Polio Day.
Speaking at the occasion Chairman of Gombe LGA, who doubles as ALGON leader Barrister Sani Haruna, lauded he partnership saying that the collaboration has reiterated the importance of local government in coordination of primary health and education.
Haruna said, “As you know primary health and education are all under the purview of local government areas it’s more like trying to ensure that we take up our responsibility. By doing that we will ensure that relevant stakeholders were invited to be parcel of the programme. They are happy and will take the message to the grassroots who are most affected.”
The ALGON State State chapter noted that Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, has prioritised The issue of healthcare, saying “The governor, has been consistent which led to his award as in combat of polio here in Nigeria. We are keying into what we have tried and its working. When you do catch them young you tend to get more results so that other states can follow suit. We have low figures in terms of maternal mortality in Gombe and the health of children below five years has improved.”
On her part, The Gombe Local Government Primary Health Care Coordinator Gombe Local Aishatu Umar, disclosed that no fewer than 192 volunteers were drawn from 24 facilities in the LGA ahead of 2024 vaccination.
Umar confirmed that the 2024 vaccination exercise is expected to vaccinate children from 0-59 months against polio, for measles from 9 months to 59 months and for Human papillomavirus is going to from 9 to 14 years.
She said, “We invited eight per facility and we have 24 facilities so we have 192 involved in the campaign. They will be the advocates for the sensitisation, since they have heard all what was said they will be our advocates. Another part of them will be the people that will do the exercise because we have been working with them for a long time. 90 per cent of the volunteers are already involved in the campaign.”
On the timeframe for the polio vaccination, Umar said “It’s by category by category we have the one done on the street we will start on Thursday and Friday from Saturday to another Sunday we will be doing two at a time one is out break response, measles campaign will start from Saturday to another Sunday.The category of people thar will benefit for polio is 0-59 months for measles its 9months to 59 months and for HPV is going to be 9 to 14 years of age.”
She called on parents to cooperate with the volunteers and allow their children to benefit, “you know the country without healthy children will not grow, our future is the children and they must be healthy,” Umar added.
