From WILLIE ATTAH, Gombe
Gombe State Government has flagged off the National Immunisation 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 immunisation vaccines.
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.
He 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 immunisation and vaccination exercises”.
He explained that immunisation and vaccination exercises have remained modern measures of preventing diseases. In that respect, he appealed to 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 their development partners, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders as well as Government officials in charge of immunisation/ 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. The commissioner called on the people to ensure that their 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 Immunisation 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 Immunisation Champion, appreciated the state government’s efforts in ensuring that citizens enjoy good health.
He called on parents to bring their children for vaccination so that the campaign against polio would be successful.
Dr.Faruk Ismail of the World Health Organisation (WHO), delivered a goodwill message on behalf of all other development partners, pledging their continued support to the government. He also commended the governor for remaining resolute to the provision of quality healthcare to the citizenry.
