By: Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Gombe State Government has flagged off the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) in spite of the recent fire disaster that razed down its N5b worth medical Store.
A mysterious fire had about two weeks back consumed the State Medical Store worth N5b including immunization vaccines.
Mai Kaltung administering the vaccine to a child
But the State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Manasseh Daniel Jatau, said the administration remains committed to the provision of quality healthcare to the citizens as one of its top priority despite the recent setback.
Women and their children who graced the flagg off ceremony for the immunization.
Dr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau said, “under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya since 29th May 2019, it has placed health as a top priority. Accordingly, it never failed to conduct all scheduled rounds of National Immunization and Vaccination exercises”.
He explained that immunization and vaccination exercises have remained the present modern measures of preventing diseases and appealed on the people of the State to embrace it especially as the spread of diseases are aided by factors such as migration, winds that are blowing, heat, scarcity of water, lack of good food among others.
He appreciated development partners, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders as well as Government officials incharge of immunization/ vaccination for their continued support towards meeting the health needs of the people in the state.
In his address, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, commended the Governor’s resilience and contributions of the development partners as well as the Federal Ministry of Health for making the event a reality.
He said the Polio vaccination has a targeted population of Nine Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ten ( 981,710) with adequate dosage to cover. He called on the people to ensure that there children within the targeted age of five years and below are vaccinated.
Executive Secretary, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahaman Shuaibu, who was represented by Dr. Maryam Abubakar, Director, Community and Family Health, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is to protect children from Polio.
The Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Mohammed, who is also the deputy chairman Gombe State council of Emir’s and Chiefs as well as an Immunization Champion appreciated the State Government’s effort in ensuring that citizens enjoy good health.
He called on parents to bring their children for vaccination so that the campaign against Polio will be successful.
Dr.Faruk Ismail of the World Health Organization (WHO), delivered a goodwill message on behalf of all other development partners, pledging their continued support to the Government while also commending the Governor for remaining resolute to the provision of quality healthcare to the citizenry.
