Bauchi:  Excitement As Integrated Vaccination Campaign Witnesses Huge Compliance  

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The Integrated Vaccination campaign against measles and polio in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State has recorded huge compliance.

The exercise was flagged off on Saturday with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners targeting 9.8 million under five children in Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau and Taraba States

Our correspondent, who went round some health facilities in the area, reports that the exercise, which has entered the third day, is going on smoothly.

Metoric Post reports that caregivers were seen bringing eligible children for vaccination.

Assessment visits to some facilities by a team of Health Reporters on Tuesday indicated that the exercise was well widely accepted by the people.

At the Primary Health Care Centre in Miri, children were brought out to be vaccinated as part of the routine immunization in the facility.

The Immunization Focal Person for Miri Ward, Umar Abdullahi Ningi commended the smooth conduct of the vaccination in his ward.

Ningi disclosed that for the measles vaccination, the target is 7100 while there is no figure for Polio OVR in Miri ward but billed to take place in 97 settlements.

He said so far, 2,701 children were for measles while 11,606 children received doses of OPV to prevent them from polio variants in the area.

Ningi disclosed that a total of 2,950 doses of vaccines have been used for measles immunization while for the OVR, a total of 12,300 doses have been used.

He said that the total is for the entire Miri Ward at the Health facilities that are cited at the various communities including the mobile and fixed posts.

In Dan Amar 1 Ward, the Immunization Focal Person disclosed that the target for measles in the area is 5006 U-5 children while the target for OVR is 9,529.

He however explained that for the first Three days of the campaign (Saturday to Monday) a total of 1,135 eligible children have been immunization for measles while 7,555 have been reached for OVR.

According to him, for the Three days, 8000 doses of OVR have been used while for measles, 1,470 doses have been used.

Also speaking, the Routine Immunization Officer of Bayan Fada PHCC, Halima Adamu expressed satisfaction with the turnout of caregivers for the exercise saying that it has been very encouraging compared with past exercises.

She added that so far in the Three days of the exercise, no serious challenge has been recorded to have hampered the smooth operation of the exercise.

The RI Officer expressed optimism that for the Ward and Facility, the target will be met as adequate Mobilization has been made while the investment of the traditional rulers and community/religious  leaders has complemented in encouraging the parents to take the children to the facilities for immunization.

One of the caregivers who brought her 3 years old girl for immunization expressed happiness that the exercise was conducted saying that it will enhance the well-being of the children and protect them against the child killer diseases.

She said that her child has received the complete doses of the required vaccinations stressing that, “As you can see, my daughter is looking healthy and beautiful. I call on all mothers to allow their children U-5 years to be immunized in order to stay healthy.”

Metoric Post reports that a few hitch of mobility which the adhoc personnel were observed owing to the current hike in transport fare caused by the high cost of price of fuel.

Some of the affected adhoc personnel appeal for adjustment in the allowances to enable them break even with the cost of transportation to the points of the exercise.

UNICEF and other implementing partners are supporting the state government in the conduct of the integrated Immunization exercise against measles and Polio for U-5 children.