GAVI, UNICEF Targets 1.5m Children for Vaccination Against Killer Diseases in Kebbi
By Abdullahi Tukur.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Gavi, has said they are targeting at least three hundred children in four years for vaccination against dreaded killer diseases in Kebbi State.
The Health Manager of Nigeria, UNICEF office Abuja, Dr. Sheikh Humuyin Kabir, disclosed this in the Argungu local government area of Kebbi State when the team paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera.
Dr. Kabir explained that they are in Kebbi to seek the support and cooperation of the Emir and his kingsmen to ensure routine uptake of vaccines for both immunisation and periodic immunisation for children.
“We are focusing on the killer diseases, which include diphtheria, malaria, tetanus, measles, cholera, and cervical cancer for young girls.
He said that traditional rulers are critical stakeholders in the facilitation of vaccine acceptance through their sustained advocacy geared towards enlightening them on the need to take them as protection against those killer diseases.
his words, “The vaccines are available and for free; therefore, they should come to access them.”
The Head of the Gavi delegation, Dr. Jesica Crawford, said their organisation is responsible for malaria vaccination in Nigeria, saying, “The rationale behind their coming to Kebbi and Nigeria is to push massive malaria vaccination to ensure no child in the community is missed in the uptake; hence, the reason to come for physical engagement to strengthen deeper collaborations with the Kebbi state government, particularly the Kebbi primary healthcare agency.”
Responding, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, expressed surprise that there is a sharp decline in malaria vaccine acceptance by the community, adding that people have been asking why there are always polio vaccines and not malaria vaccines and that the vaccines are ready but people are declining when parents should struggle to get them.
He attributed the decline in vaccination to poor public enlightenment, as the whole dust died after each program, and therefore urged them to step up efforts towards constant enlightenment to ensure wider coverage.
In a similar development, the World Health Organisation (WHO), through their Kebbi State coordinator, Dr. Nasir Zurmi, donated eleven units of motorcycles to the Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to enable vaccinators to get to hard-to-reach communities in the state.
The team visited primary healthcare facilities in Takalau in the Birnin Kebbi metropolis and Argungu.
