The United Nations Children’s Fund and the Bauchi State Government have flagged off a seven-day immunisation exercise to vaccinate 127,550 children in Toro Local Government Area of the state.
Local Immunisation Officer for Toro LGA, Musa Danladi, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Toro on Tuesday.
He said the goal was to reach the children to further tackle polio-related diseases, child mortality, and all vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as to improve child health in the LGA.
He added that, with the collaborative efforts of UNICEF, the Bauchi State Government, and the World Health Organisation, 32 ward Focal Persons and Field Volunteers had been trained at the LGA level for the exercise.
Danladi said the exercise was flagged off in Tilde Ward due to its history of low vaccine compliance.
“We have a team of vaccinators who are going street by street to immunise the children outside their houses.
“We have the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (NOPV), which our house-to-house team carries along to ensure that all eligible children from zero months to 59 months are immunised.
“We also have a fixed post stationed in one location in each of the 17 wards, where children from zero to 23 months receive all vaccine antigens like the NOPV, BCG, Hepatitis B, IPV, and PCV, among others,” he said.
Danladi noted that there was 99 per cent vaccine compliance in the LGA, adding that the feat was achievable due to the LGA chairman’s support, which complemented UNICEF’s efforts and those of the state government.
The LIO called on residents to redouble their efforts in complying with all vaccination campaigns and ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated to make the LGA free from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Speaking, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Bauchi State, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said that over 1.7 million eligible children have been reached and vaccinated in the state.
She described immunisation as one of UNICEF’s strategies to save children’s lives, keep them healthy, and help them reach their potential.
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