From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency has targeted approximately 2,688,730 children for polio vaccination across 28 of the state’s 34 local government areas.
The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Shaima’u Kabir Abba, disclosed this during a media briefing ahead of the state polio vaccination campaign, scheduled to commence on the 7th of this month.
According to her, six local government areas—Bindawa, Dutsi, Kankia, Kusada, Safana and Sandamu—will not be included in the exercise.
Dr. Abba, who was represented by the Agency’s Health Educator, Dr. Muhtar Mahmud, said the vaccination would cover 299 wards and target children aged between zero and 59 months.
She explained that the exercise would include novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) and fractional inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV), in line with applicable guidelines and eligibility criteria.
“The campaign will use DOPV, transit and special teams, house-to-house vaccination and temporary fixed posts to reach eligible children,” she added.
The Executive Secretary explained that the operational schedule would comprise two days of DOPV activities, four days of house-to-house vaccination and two days of mop-up activities.
She further disclosed that, in addition to polio vaccination, the exercise would integrate other essential health interventions through the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week and the SARMAN II Project to improve access to preventive healthcare services for children and pregnant women.
Dr. Abba called for the cooperation and support of journalists to ensure the success of the campaign.
She urged media practitioners to disseminate accurate, timely and consistent information about the exercise through traditional and digital platforms.
She also encouraged journalists to promote the importance of vaccinating eligible children and counter rumours and misinformation about the campaign with verified information.
Furthermore, she urged journalists to encourage parents and caregivers to take their children to designated vaccination points.
Dr. Abba assured the public that the Agency would make every effort to ensure that no eligible child was left out of the exercise.
