Adamawa targets 1.4m children as NIPDs campaign begins Sunday
The Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) has intensified efforts to safeguard children’s health ahead of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) scheduled to commence on Sunday across the state.
Speaking during a mass media dialogue convened in Yola to herald the campaign, the Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Sulaiman Saidu Bashir, said the campaign will run for four days, followed by an additional two days of mop-up to ensure no child is left behind.
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Dr. Bashir explained that the exercise forms part of a broader sub-national immunization drive targeting 12 states across Nigeria, including Adamawa, as part of sustained efforts to maintain the country’s polio-free certification.
“While polio has been certified as eliminated in this part of the world, we must remain vigilant. We may not have confirmed cases of the wild poliovirus, but the risk of resurgence still exists, especially with cross-border movements and pockets of vaccine resistance,” he said.
He noted that recent developments in some countries and regions, including the emergence of mutated strains of the virus, underscore the need for continuous surveillance and proactive immunization campaigns.
According to him, Adamawa has recorded pockets of resistance in certain communities, largely due to migration and socio-economic factors.
He however noted that, targeted interventions, including community engagement with traditional leaders and stakeholders, have significantly improved acceptance.
“We identified those areas, mapped them, and engaged critical stakeholders, including district heads and council chairmen. That strategy proved to be a game changer,” Bashir said.
The ADPHCDA boss disclosed that the campaign aims to reach about 1.4 million children under the age of five across all 21 local government areas and 226 political wards in the state adding that to achieve the tasking goal 1,685 teams comprising vaccinators, recorders, and community mobilizers have been deployed.
He further explained that the teams will adopt both house-to-house and special outreach strategies, including visits to churches and other gathering points, to maximize coverage.
“This is the only health activity that gives us access to every household in the state. Our teams will not only administer vaccines but also conduct surveillance by asking critical questions and collecting samples where necessary,” he noted.
Dr. Bashir emphasized that environmental sanitation remains crucial in preventing the spread of poliovirus, which is transmitted through contaminated food, water, and poor hygiene practices. He urged residents to support the campaign by ensuring their children are vaccinated and by maintaining proper sanitation.
Also speaking at the event, UNICEF representative Jennifer Dabo commended the state government and stakeholders for their consistent support toward primary healthcare initiatives.
“On behalf of UNICEF, we sincerely appreciate your support over the years in ensuring the success of primary healthcare activities. We appeal for your continued collaboration in this upcoming campaign to help us achieve the expected results and protect our children,” she said.
Dabo expressed optimism that with sustained partnership and community participation, the campaign would significantly contribute to safeguarding the lives of children across Adamawa.
