By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The first round of the 2022 Outbreak Response on polio immunization has commenced in Bauchi state today targeting over 2 million under five children in the state.
Flagging off the campaign at the Bayan Fada primary healthcare centre in Bauchi metropolis today, the executive chairman of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed appeal to caregivers to not only allow their children to be vaccinated, but should also continue with routine immunization at health facilities in order to prevent their children from all child killer diseases.
He disclosed that the national primary healthcare development agency (NPHCDA) have provided the state with more than enough vaccines to adequately cover the total targeted population during the campaign.
Dr. Mohammed, while reiterating the importance of remaining a polio free nation said the agency is concerned with the resurgence of cases of circulating Mutant Polio Virus Type 2 (Cmpv2) in 12 LGs of Bauchi State that includes: Toro, Warji, Darazo, Misau, Dambam, Zaki, Jama’are and Alkaleri. Others, according to the EC are: Ganjuwa, Bauchi, Katagum and Shira Local Government Areas of the state.
He commended the state governor Bala Mohammed for approving funds to complement that of the partners, I though according to him no release has been made to the Agency yet.
There were goodwill messages from the NPHCDA, WHO and AFENET who all converge in the state to support the implementation of the campaign.
Our correspondent reports that Bauchi State is among the few states that started the OBR campaign in the country.