The Adamawa State Government has launched a statewide polio vaccination campaign with the goal of immunizing over 1.4 million children under the age of five. The four-day exercise, which began on Sunday, is part of renewed efforts to eradicate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases across the state.
The campaign was flagged off at the Malkohi Primary Healthcare Centre in Yola South Local Government Area. Representing Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri at the event, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Yayaji Mijinyawa, emphasized the administration’s commitment to improving child health and ensuring that no child is left unprotected. He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community groups to support the campaign by encouraging parents to present their children for vaccination.
The immunization drive is being conducted with support from international development partners, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Speaking at the event, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, praised the Adamawa State Government for its leadership in public health initiatives. She reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of the oral polio vaccine and urged field teams to prioritize reaching children in hard-to-access areas.
Dr. Yusuf Abdulkareem, WHO Coordinator in Adamawa State, also stressed the importance of routine immunization, noting that it is a critical step towards building strong immunity among children. He further encouraged government officials to sustain efforts against other endemic diseases like malaria.
Traditional leaders, led by the District Head of Yola South, Alhaji Zubairu Mustapha, pledged full support for the vaccination campaign and promised to mobilize their communities to ensure a high coverage rate.
The Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has deployed vaccination teams across the 21 local government areas, ensuring that both urban and rural communities are covered. Health workers are expected to go house-to-house, markets, schools, and places of worship to administer the polio vaccine.
Parents and caregivers have been urged to cooperate fully with health officials to ensure the success of the exercise and to contribute towards achieving a polio-free Nigeria
