Bauchi – Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has charged technical teams in the polio campaigns in the state to intensify efforts to ensure that there was no polio infection in the state.
Abubakar gave the charge on Saturday in Bauchi at the commencement of Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) in the state.
He said Bauchi State was ahead of the national level in the polio campaigns having gone 23 months without Wild Polio Virus (WPV) infection and 33 months without Circulating Vaccine Derive Polio Virus (CVDPV).
“There is the need to intensify the surveillance since we are in the last stage of eradicating the virus from the country.
“The state government will employ formal and non-formal education channels on health care consciousness, awareness and campaigns.
“The state’s statistics is above the national because Bauchi has marked 23 months as a polio-free state while the nation yesterday celebrated one year of free of WPV,’’ he said.
He commended stakeholders for their commitments towards children and women health in the state.
The Chairman, Bauchi State Task Force on Polio Eradication and Emir of Dass, Alhaji Othman Bilyanimu, called for more stakeholders’ support toward polio eradication efforts.
He appreciated the role played by traditional rulers in the polio campaign and acknowledged the cooperation of parents to ensure the eradication of polio virus in the state.
The IPD commenced on July 25 and is scheduled to end on July 28 (NAN)