By Ndidi Chukwu
The Federal Government is immunizing 37 million under -5-years old Nigerian Children for 2015 September round of Sub National Immunization Days (SIPDs). The exercise which is taking place in 13 states in the northern part of the country began on Saturday September 5th and ends on Tuesday September 8th, 2015. The 13 states participating in the exercise are Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Adamawa and Zamfara. Others are Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi and Taraba States.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad disclosed this to newsmen while monitoring the exercise at Sabon Wuse in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. He disclosed that a total of 39 million doses of Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (TOPV) had been released and distributed to all the political wards in the 13 participating States.
Dr. Ado disclosed that sequel to the vaccination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, State Governors were demonstrating equal impressive political commitment to sustaining the current gains of one year without polio transmission in the Country. This great achievement, Dr. Ado recalled with great delight, attracted commendation of the President of United States President Barack Obama, United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban-ki Moon, WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan and other International organizations.
He commended all health workers and Nigerians in general for the sustained dedication and patriotism leading to non-transmission of a single case of polio in Nigeria. The Executive Director expressed the optimism that Nigeria will attain polio free certification by 2019.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Niger State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Aliyu Yabagi reiterated the commitment of Niger State Government to sustaining a polio free country and improved routine immunization.
