Meningitis: Tambuwal meets traditional rulers, council chairs, others as death toll hits 230

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has met with relevant stakeholders in routine immunization in the state as death toll from the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis reached 230. UNICEF had in its recent report rated the state very low in terms of routine immunization coverage as 95 per cent of its children were not fully immunized. The […]

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has met with relevant stakeholders in routine immunization in the state as death toll from the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis reached 230.

UNICEF had in its recent report rated the state very low in terms of routine immunization coverage as 95 per cent of its children were not fully immunized.

The meeting which held at the conference hall of the cabinet office was attended by the deputy Governor of the state and chairman Taskforce committee on immunization, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, chairmen of local government areas, commissioner of health and representatives of developing partners in the state.

Others were traditional rulers and key officers of the state Ministry of Health among others.

According to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the meeting was called to review the success as well as the challenges associated with the routine immunization in the state.

He wondered why the people of the state were not responding to immunization exercises despite the fact that the vaccines were free and could be found virtually in any health facilities in addition to house-to-house immunization exercises.

Tambuwal said: "I want you to tell us the truth, don’t hide anything as doing that is amounting to a great disservice to our communities."

He also directed that Islamic scholars be invited in the next meeting noting that some households still hold to wrong perception about immunization.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar admitted that there was a problem and that it was caused by dishonesty and lack of trust.

"If we are not honest in our dealings, we will not be able to tackle our problems," he said

In his goodwill message, the founder of Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote expressed concern that routine immunization was recording low patronage in the state even though the state was gradually progressing.