More than 1.9 million children under five years are targeted in the ongoing Fractional Inactivated Polio Immunization Campaign being conducted in Zamfara State, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Habib Yelwa has said.
Dr. Habib Yelwa said the exercise, which was divided into two phases, had seven local government areas in each phase and is expected to end on Aug 28.
Zamfara State Deputy Governor and Chairman Task Force Committee on Polio Immunization Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau led the State Team on Immunization on a supervision to fixed posts and health facilities where the exercise is being carried out.
The Deputy Governor said the present administration was committed to funding activities of health care sector including provision of counterpart funding to partners.
He called on parents and caregivers to present their children to be immunised against the deadly polio virus.
He said the committee was ready to continue to intervene in resolving non-compliance issues as rejection is one of the problems the success of the programme.
The Executive Secretary State Primary Health Care Board Alhaji Yusuf A. Musa Mafara said the board had trained Local government officials , traditional rulers and non-governmental organizations to ensure success of the exercise.
Alhaji Yusuf Mafara also said the board had provided sufficient vaccines in addition to employing adequate manpower deployed to fixed posts and health facilities throughout the state.
The Director Primary Health Care of the State Primary Heath Care Board, Dr. Ismaila Tukur informed the Deputy Governor that 1,486 teams were dispatched to conduct the exercise.
