By Asma’u Ahmad
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board, on Wednesday said it has immunised 901,513 under-five children against polio in the just concluded round of vaccination in the territory.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Mathew Ashikeni, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. Dr Ashikeni said the number of children immunised had surpassed the targeted 746,466 children intended to be vaccinated.
He also said internal monitoring report of the board indicated that about 100 per cent was covered, while World Health Organisation (WHO) showed coverage of 96 per cent during the exercise.
The acting executive secretary said the success recorded in the last vaccination was due to commitment of all stakeholders involved.
Ashikeni explained that workers that were engaged in the exercise were paid their entitlements before going to the field, adding that support from donor agencies were received in good time. He disclosed that no fewer than 200 supervisors were deployed to monitor the exercise across the six area councils in FCT.
Dr Ashikeni commended FCT Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello, for leading the campaign which made some residents to accept the vaccine administered to their children.
He said that in spite the success recorded, there were still cases of rejection in some public schools and religious houses in the territory.
The executive secretary restated the board’s commitment and determination to eradicate polio and other childhood preventable diseases from the territory.
