Polio: Jigawa targets 1.7m children for immunisation

He said the agency had received enough Oral Polio Vaccines (OPVs)

The Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), says it has targeted about 1.7 million children for inoculation against polio in the second round immunisation campaign in the State.

Dr Kabir Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Sunday, that adequate personnel had been deployed to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise across the State.

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Ibrahim said the gesture was to ensure that all children under the age of five were immunised against the disease.

He said the agency had received enough Oral Polio Vaccines (OPVs), to facilitate successful conduct of the exercise.

The Secretary, who sought for the support and cooperation of community and religious leaders as well as other stakeholders for the smooth conduct of the exercise, urged parents to present their wards for the immunisation at designated centres.

“Parents should cooperate with immunisation officials for a hitch-free exercise.

“And from my personal inspection in some areas as well as reports reaching the agency, the exercise is going on smoothly across the State,” Ibrahim said.

According to him, such cooperation will facilitate quick response in combating the disease and address other emergency situations in the State.

NAN reports that the five-day exercise, which commenced on July 31, was ongoing simultaneously across the 27 Local Government Areas of the State. (NAN)