By Haruna Gimba
Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state, at the weekend personally immunised six children with polio vaccine to flag off the
October round of National Immunisation Exercise against Polio in Rano Local Government Area of the state.
The governor said the routine exercise was to ensure that 100 per cent children equivalent to of 3.2million target population for polio
immunisation exercise in the state are adequately captured to stem the spread of the virus.
He noted that for almost two and a half years now, the state has not recorded new polio case, hence the need for unrelenting campaigns to
maintain the status.
Dr. Ganduje commended the traditional rulers and other stakeholders for working hand -in-hand with health workers towards ensuring that all children are immunised, adding that there are no cases of resistance in the recent time in the state.
In his speech, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Getso, said the exercise would last for four days, adding that
sufficient vaccines were provided as well as permanent staff were engaged to ensure full implementation of the polio immunisation across
the state.
The commissioner also inspected the exercise in Bunkure and Dawakin Kudu Local Government Areas shortly after the flag-off exercise.
In his remarks, the Emir of Kano, who was represented by the District Head of Ajingi, Alhaji Wada Aliyu, said the emirate council and otherstakeholders are much concerned over the permanent effect of disability being caused by the polio virus, therefore directing all
traditional leaders to enforce compliance by ensuring that their people present their wards for adequate immunisation against the
virus.
Also, in her remarks, UNICEF Chief Officer from Katsina Zonal Office, Mrs. Padmah Wetty, urged parents to inculcate the habit of hygienic
protection by embracing the culture of frequent hand washing.
She pointed out that due to unhygienic lifestyle, millions of people die of diarrhea each year.
On polio immunisation, Mrs. Wetty said she was impressed that the state is really committed towards polio eradication, appreciating the
fact that since 2014, no new case has been recorded in the state.
