Adamawa: 1 million children were vaccinated against polio

The Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, APHCDA, about 1,258,481 children were vaccinated against the polio virus.

The state, which had received 1,500,000 doses of the novel oral poliomyelitis vaccine, nOPV2, for the two-day national immunization plus days round two NIPDs2 Polio vaccination, flagged off the exercise on Friday in Girei, near the capital, Yola.

The state Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, who performed the symbolic inaugural vaccination, urged parents and caregivers to avail their children of the exercise.

Farauta, who doubles as chairperson of the state Taskforce on Primary Health Care and Immunization, said, “Let’s ensure that all eligible children 0-59 months are vaccinated during this round 2 exercise.

“The exercise is meant to maintain eradication of the polio virus among children and reduce childhood diseases.”

She added that it was vital for parents and caregivers to utilize the opportunity to raise the immunity of their children and improve their health and well-being.

The state Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Felix Tangwami, and the Chairman of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Suleiman Bashir, said there had been a helpful synergy between the state and development partners, particularly the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation, WHO, in ensuring health service delivery in the state.