By Haruna Gimba
Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the state has immunized one million children against measles and other child killer diseases across the state in the last three months.
Governor Tambuwal said the state government has also stepped up its commitment by ensuring adequate provision of health facilities in rural areas for children to access vaccination on time at the
grassroots.
Tambuwal said the essence was to improve quality, efficacy and storage of vaccines.
The Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Shehu Kakale, told the governor that the renewed efforts and commitment by the state government made it possible to get vaccines to children in remote areas of the state in the ongoing immunisation exercise.
A statement by the governor Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, quoted the health commissioner saying that “stakeholders in the health sector have commended Sokoto government and have now adopted the ‘Tambuwal Initiative’ in enhancing the work of health field officers in their localities.
“The Tambuwal Initiative came about after the he introduced new measures to boost immunization and healthcare activities. These measures include setting aside two hours of his time every month to chair the meeting of the steering committee on immunization in the state, directing top government functionaries, led by the Deputy Governor, to chair the bi-monthly meeting on polio.
“Also, the initiative ensures that the governor, through the Ministry for Local Government, takes charge of the payment of entitlements of officials for Routine Immunization and Immunization Plus Day, personally taking charge of engagement with all non-compliant communities and assigning all local government areas to cabinet members to ensure hands-on approach in dealing with immunization and other health issues,” Dr. Kakale said.
