Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara have been identified as states with the highest number of unimmunised and zero dose children in the country.
The Director, Public Health, Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdulrahaman Ahmed at a two-day Media Dialogue on Routine Immunisation and Zero Dose Reduction Campaign by UNICEF in collaboration with Primary Healthcare Development agencies of Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states said the three states have been tagged as Areas of Intractable Transmission (AIT) as a result of the noncompliance of their public to accept Immunization for their children from birth.
He said there was a need for the media to reach out to parents in the communities to allow vaccines to be administered on their children.
He added that immunisation is very important for the children’s safety against diseases such as polio, meningitis and others.
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UNICEF health specialist, Dr Danjuma Nehemiah said as from 2021 to 2022, Sokoto and Zamfara were within 20 and 27 per cent while Kebbi was 57 per cent but with these figures they are still lowest in the country on children routine immunisation and zero dose.
In her presentation, UNICEF Chief Field Office Sokoto, Dr. Maryam Said who was represented by the Health Manager, Sokoto Field Office, Dr. Shamina Sharmin said Nigeria has the highest number of zero dose children.