Kaduna – The Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Agency says it immunised 3.4 million children against poliomyelitis and other child-killer diseases in 2015.
Alhaji Hamza Ikara, the Health Education Officer of the agency, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Friday.
Ikara said that the under-aged children were immunised in nine rounds and three mop up exercises conducted during the year under review.
He said that the state government had captured 90 per cent of children targeted in the exercise.
The official attributed the success of the exercise to the combined efforts of key stakeholders.
According to him, the state has not recorded new polio cases in the state since Nov. 17, 2012, making the state among the first to eradicate the disease in the country.
“Kaduna recorded its last polio case on Nov. 12, 2012, and we hope to maintain the tempo until we are fully certified polio-free.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“We are happy with the effort made by the state and the nation to completely eradicate polio and be delisted in the polio endemic countries.
“We believe by July 2017, the country will be fully certified polio free,’’ he noted.
Ikara said that the agency would embark on massive advocacy to traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups.
He said the sensitisation was to raise awareness among residents in rural areas on the importance of immunisation.
“The agency hopes to conduct five rounds of immunisation, and parents and caregivers are urged to present their wards to ensure its success.
“We have noticed that some parents are refusing to present their wards for immunisation since the country had been delisted from polio endemic countries.
“Being delisted does not mean we are completely free, but we can move freely from one country to another.’’
He appreciated the support of WHO, UNICEF, PATH, NPHCDA to the eradication of polio and child killer diseases in the state.
Ikara also commended women and youth groups, as well as religious leaders and traditional rulers for their contributions to the successes recorded.
NAN reports that the agency is billed to commence the first round of immunisation for the year from January 21 to 27. (NAN)