Federal Government has immunized 37 million under-five children in 13 states in northern part of the country.

 

The exercise was for this month’s round of Sub – National Immunization Days, SIPDs. The immunization began last Saturday September 5th and ended yesterday, September 8, according to a statement made available to National Mirror by Head, Public Relations Unit of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Saadu Salahu.

 

States where the programme took place, according to the statement, are Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Adamawa and Zamfara. Others are Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi and Taraba States.

 

Briefing newsmen while monitoring the exercise at Sabon Wuse in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, the release quoted Executive Director of the agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad as saying that a total of 39 million doses of Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (TOPV) had been released and distributed to all the political wards in the 13 participating states.

 

“Dr. Ado disclosed that sequel to the vaccination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter; state governors were demonstrating equal impressive political commitment to sustaining the current gains of one year without polio transmission in the Country.

 

 

“This great achievement, Dr. Ado recalled with great delight, attracted commendation of  the President of United States, President Barack Obama, United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Ban-ki Moon ,WHO Director General, Margaret Chan and other International organizations.

 

“He commended all health workers and Nigerians in general for the sustained dedication and patriotism leading to non – transmission of a single case of polio in Nigeria. The Executive Director expressed the optimism that Nigeria would attain polio – free certification by 2017.

 

“Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Niger state Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Aliyu Yabagi reiterated the commitment of Niger State Government to sustaining a polio – free country and improved routine immunization.

 

It would be recalled that no polio case has been recorded in the country in the past 13 months, and the World Health Organization, WHO, is expected to certify the nation free of the disease in 2017.

 

President Buhari recently pledged that the nation would employ everything at its disposal to ensure the realization of the certification by the WHO.

 

By: MARCUS FATUNMOLE

National Mirror