Strengthening resistance: Adamawa kicks off NIPDs campaign for 1.4m children
In its move to strengthen resistance against polio and other child killer diseases in Adamawa State, the state government in collaboration with UNICEF has kicked off a 4-day integrated National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign targeting no fewer than 1.4 million children under the age of five.
The exercise which took place at Atiku Abubakar primary healthcare center in Jimeta saw the administration of two drops of the vaccines on children under the age of five.
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Speaking on behalf of the executive chairman of Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADPHCDA) Hajiya Asma’u Usman Hona thanked UNICEF and WHO for their unflinching commitment towards ensuring the success of the exercise.
She noted that the campaign will last for four days after which two additional days will be provided as a buffer to cover children that may have been left out.
Hona 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.
She also thanked the traditional institution, community and religious leaders for their efforts at ensuring mass advocacy and success of the exercise. Hona added that the exercise will involve house to house campaign and visit to churches, schools and other meeting points to ensure all children are covered.
Also speaking, the vice chairman of Yola North local government Hon. Sarah Nathan who represented her boss Barr. Jibril Jimeta also expressed gratitude to the state government and development partners for their steadfastness at ensuring security of the life of children.
She called on parents to avail their children for the immunization so as to be protected against the dreaded child killer diseases.
She pleaded on the three district heads of Jimeta and their subordinates to talk to their people on the need to avail their children for the immunization exercise for the benefit of the children and the society at large.
Also speaking, the representative of E-health Nigeria, Mamman Abdul Wakil noted that his organization will work hand in hand with state government and other development partners to ensure that all children are covered.
He noted that for the purpose of ensuring total coverage, his organization will provide devices to track and monitor the activities calling on the stakeholders to make good use of the devices for optimal service delivery.
He also called for the support of the traditional rulers in mobilizing the people and ensure the protection of the devices to be deployed.
Also speaking, a health officer with UNICEF Oluseyi Olusundu noted that the benefits of the polio vaccine cannot be overemphasized as infection on one child is archetypal to infection on all children.
He noted that the need for seriousness in mobilizing parents and stakeholders for mass participation is hinged on the fact that no child should be allowed to become disabled on account of failure to get immunization. He said to that effect, UNICEF is providing logistics and storage for the vaccine to ensure their potency.
He thanked Adamawa State government for its commitment to the safety of the children urging community gatekeepers to consolidate the effort by ensuring that issues of rejection and non-compliance are addressed.
Commenting, the district head of Jimeta, Muhammad Jauro Baba, represented by Garba Hammandikko, the ward head of Ajiya ward said the traditional institution is one hundred percent behind the immunization drive and vowed to mobilize towards its total success in the state.
