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World Polio Day: Kano Govt urge parents to embrace immunisation

World Polio Day: Kano Govt urge parents to embrace immunisation
By Aisha Ahmed
Polio
Kano, Oct. 25, 2018 (NAN) The Kano State Government has urged parents to embrace routine immunisation to keep their children fit and immune to child-killer diseases.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, made the appeal at a news conference to mark the World Polio Day in Kano on Thursday.
He said that the Ganduje administration had increased its counterpart funding in order to sustain the status of Kano of being polio-free for over a year.
Getso explained that the state had empowered more health personnel to man the routine immunisation across all the local governments.
According to the commissioner,“the administration has renovated and equipped health facilities to strengthen routine immunisation exercises for polio and other diseases’’.
He commended stakeholders, especially the Kano Emirate Council, for supporting the cause for the benefit of children.
Getso emphasised the commitment of the administration towards boosting the state’s healthcare system.
NAN reports that Oct. 24 of every year has been set aside to mark the World Polio Day to create awareness on poliomyelitis. (NAN)
AAA/COF/MST
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

How Africa can earn polio-free certification — WHO

Polio
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Oct. 24, 2018 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Africa stood the chance of being certified polio-free by the end of 2019 or early 2020 if member states could strengthen medical surveillance and ensure that no polio case was recorded.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti,  said this in her message on Wednesday in Abuja, to mark the World Polio Day.

Moeti, however, warned countries in the region against being complacent until polio is eradicated.

She called on all countries to continue to strengthen surveillance efforts in secured and unsecured areas given that the region still remained predisposed to outbreaks.

According to her, although the region has made tremendous progress towards polio eradication, some states have continued to circulate vaccine-derived poliovirus.

The regional director attributed the trend to weak routine immunisation.

She said that since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) nearly 30 years ago, new cases of polio had dropped from 350,000 cases yearly in more than 125 countries and by more than 99.9 per cent, to 22 wild polio cases in two affected countries in 2017.

“As a region, our surveillance efforts need to be strengthened. It will be a disaster if we fail to be certified because of poor surveillance performance.

“A number of countries have sub-optimal surveillance in both secured and in secured areas.

“I therefore urge all countries whether they have had a case of polio or not to recommit to strengthening surveillance urgently.

“As late as 2012, the region accounted for more than half of the global polio burden, but polio cases have dropped steadily from 128 cases in 2012 to four cases in 2016 and 0 cases in 2017 and 2018.

“The region has now reached an important milestone towards eradication; it has been more than two years since the last case of wild poliovirus.

“I applaud the excellent efforts of governments, polio eradication partners, communities, parents and health workers in achieving this.
“This is no time however to be complacent. Until polio is eradicated, all countries remain at risk of outbreaks.

“As a region, Africa can only be certified to have eradicated polio if three years have passed without any confirmed wild poliovirus.

“Also if polio surveillance has been maintained at the level required for certification, If no new case is confirmed and surveillance is quickly strengthened, the region can be certified to have eradicated polio by end of 2019 or early 2020.”

Moeti also called on all member states to take proactive steps towards the containment of the poliovirus and potential poliovirus infectious materials in a timely manner to prevent the spread of the disease.

She said that this could lead to catastrophic outbreaks and reverse the gains towards eradication.

The regional director said that eradication of  polio needed political commitment and adequate resources.

She assured member states of WHO’s support.

Moeti expressed optimism that the region would soon eradicate polio, but called on member countries to work together to ensure that the objective was achieved.

The World Polio Day is celebrated every year on Oct. 24 to galvanise support to end polio, an incurable but completely vaccine preventable disease that still threatens children in a few places around the world. (NAN)
KRY/MO/YEE

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Edited by Omolade Michael/Emmanuel Yashim

Health

Environmental polio samples worries Yobe Govt

By Mohammed Mamman
Polio
Fika (Yobe State), Oct. 22, 2018 (NAN) The Yobe Task-force on Immunisation and Primary Healthcare on Monday expressed concern over the threat posed by environmental polio samples collated in Fika and Gadaka communities in the state.

Dr Mohammed Lawan-Gana, the Executive Secretary, Yobe Primary Healthcare Management Agency, stated this at a sensitisation campaign in the affected communities.

He confirmed that immunisation coverage in these areas had dropped to between 50-53 per cent, given credence to the reason for the presence of environmental polio samples in drainages in these communities.

Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, the state’s Dep. Gov. and chairman of the task force, said the multiple indicators from cluster survey, showed that many children were not vaccinated, thereby exposing them to killer diseases.

Aliyu said the state government and development partners, including Bill and Melinda Gates, and Dangote foundation, entered into Community Engagement Strategy to enhance the polio coverage.

According to him, through the agreement, representatives from the 14 emirate councils across the state have been trained to engage their communities on effective immunisation of children.

The chairman directed emirs to engage district and village heads to mobilise their subjects, fill the gaps and monitor every birth and immunise them against killer diseases in their communities.

“You should please step-up action and engage community leaders to improve immunisation coverage and track down those who have not completed their vaccination schedules,” Aliyu said.

He assured that the government along with other partners were prepared to support the communities in ensuring full coverage of immunisation in the state. (NAN)
MM/JIE/MST
Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Bauchi Govt battles Type 2 Polio virus

By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Polio
Bauchi, Oct. 20, 2018 (NAN) The Bauchi  State Government says it is intensifying efforts on surveillance system to fight type 2 Polio virus found in the state. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus Type 2 (cVDPV2) was discovered at Gwallaga mosque area linking three wards of Makama B, Hardo and Dankade areas of Bauchi Local Government Area through samples  collected from various locations on a monthly basis.

Dr Zuwaira Hassan, the State Commissioner for Health, told newsmen in Bauchi on Saturday that the state government has embarked on active surveillance system to fight the polio virus out of the state.

She said the intensive campaign and awareness will be carried out across the state to get rid of the type 2 Polio virus found in the state metropolis.

“The type polio virus was last discovered  years back and that wild Polio virus was last discovered 5 years back in the state,” she said.

The commissioner said the type 2 virus was first discovered in Jigawa, Yobe and Katsina States some part of the north and Niger Republic.

Hassan explained that the virus was only discovered on ponds, drainages and refuse in the communities, adding that it is not discovered on a human being.

She stressed that the state government was committed to eradicating polio in the state “with the Basket fund MOU between Bill and Millinda Gate, Aliko Dangote and the state government on polio and immunization.

“I am confident that we have done well in trying to eradicate polio.

“Therefore there is need to improve access to information to health workers who are stationed at different health facilities

“This would help the state government know the rate of frequency of a particular disease in a community and prevent its spread,” she said.

Hassan said the surveillance system would be conducted across the 20 local government areas of the state.

She reiterated the commitment of government to continue organising supplementary and routine immunisation days in all health facilities and outreach centres in the state.

According to her, the secondary and tertiary healthcare providers have to be innovative in making sure that diseases are promptly reported to bridge the gap.

Hassan urged families to continue to immunise their children and prevent a resurgence of the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Polio is a highly-infectious viral disease which mainly affects young children and can result in permanent paralysis.

There is no cure and it can only be prevented through immunisation.(NAN)
MAK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Type 2 Polio virus found in Bauchi – WHO

Type 2 Polio virus found in Bauchi – WHO
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Polio
Bauchi, Oct. 19, 2018 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus Type 2 (cVDPV2) has been discovered in Bauchi State.
Dr Adamu Ningi, the WHO Bauchi State Coordinator, disclosed this at a meeting with the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, and the Chairman, Social Mobilisation on Immunisation and Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Othman, in Bauchi on Friday.
He said samples were collected from various locations on a monthly basis and it has been discovered that the polio virus type 2 was found at Gwallaga mosque area linking three wards of Makama B, Hardo and Dankade.
Represented by Dr Khalid Abubakar, the state coordinator attributed the new strain to non-compliance to immunisation schedules.
“In Bauchi LGA, only 52 per cent of children are fully immunised, 29 per cent didn’t complete while 19 per cent have never been immunised.
“The latest strain of the virus are from isolated environmental samples collected from Gwallaga mosque area, Obonna Royal Hotel refuse site, Shafa bridge and FGGC drainage.
“The circulating vaccine derived polio virus is linked to the one earlier discovered in Hadejia, Jigawa State,” he said.
Also speaking, the state chairman, social mobilisation on immunisation, said the state has been without any reported case of polio for over five years.
Othman however regretted that it was unfortunate to record a new case despite efforts to prevent its resurgence from reported cases in Yobe and Jigawa states.
He noted that immunisation teams failed to report non-compliance cases in the past while supervision was poor.
The first class traditional ruler said the meeting was designed to engage the traditional institution and seek ways to contain the virus.
According to him, since the detection, WHO, UNICEF, the state government and traditional leaders have intensified efforts to check its spread.
In his remarks, the Emir of Bauchi emphasised the need for ward heads to always accompany house-to-house teams during immunisation plus days to avoid non-compliance.
While promising to support to eradicate the virus in his domain, Adamu however charged governments and the general public to intensify environmental sanitation and close supervision.
Speaking earlier, Dr Shakhawar Hossain, the UNICEF State Lead Communication Officer, said intense campaigns must be mounted and traditional leaders should be on ground to answer key questions on polio immunisation. (NAN)
MAK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Polio: Sandamu LGC immunises 49,171 children

Polio: Sandamu LGC immunises 49,171 children
By Auwalu Yusuf Birnin Kudu
Polio
Sandamu (Katsina State), Oct. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Sandamu Local Government Council in Kastina State has immunised no fewer than 49,171 children against polio during the just concluded second round of the Outbreak Response Immunisation in the area.

The Council’s Director of Health, Hajiya Sakina Zango, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sandamu on Wednesday.
Zango said the council received 52,440 vaccines out of which 52,260 were used in the exercise, resulting in 100 per cent coverage across the 11 electoral wards in the area.
She added that 85 house-to-house teams, 25 special teams and 25 fixed posts were effectively engaged and maximally utilised during the exercise, stressing that no single case of rejection was reported.
She commended all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community and religious leaders as well as the state government for the sustenance of both polio and routine immunisation in the area.
The director said that parents also demonstrated unprecedented cooperation by availing their children for the immunisation, adding “we would jealously guard and maintain this feat”.
NAN recalls that 49,218 children were earlier immunised in the area in the first round of the immunisation conducted in September.
In a related development Malam Tasiu Umar, the Council’s Mosquito Nets Logistics Officer, said they had commenced the distribution of 110,900 insecticidal mosquito nets in the area.
He said 43 distribution points are being utilised, adding that additional 3,000 nets to cover those absent during the registration of eligible beneficiaries have been received and would be distributed to such people.
Umar cautioned the beneficiaries against diversion of the nets and warned the ad hoc staff against any act of sabotage.
“We have formed a formidable monitoring team which goes round every nook and cranny of the distribution points to ensure that the exercise is hitch free,” she said.
NAN also recalls that Gov. Aminu Masari recently flagged off the distribution of five million insecticidal mosquito nets across the 34 local government areas of the state to combat malaria. (NAN)
BKD/JEO/MST
Edited by Janefrances Oraka/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Polio immunisation: Agency targets 41,460 children in Hadejia LGA

Polio immunisation: Agency targets 41,460 children in Hadejia LGA
By Nabilu Balarabe
Polio
Hadejia (Jigawa), Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Jigawa Primary Health Care Development Agency (JPHCDA) on Monday said it targeted 41,460 children in Hadejia Local Government Area of the state for vaccination against poliomyelitis under the ongoing September round Outbreak Response.
The JPHCDA Manager in the area, Alhaji Yusuf Hakimi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia.
He said that the exercise, which began on Sept. 1, was going on smoothly in the 11 wards of the council and would be concluded on Sept. 4.
The manager noted that 41,106 children were vaccinated during the June round of the campaign, representing 98 per cent of the expected target.
He however dismissed speculations that the children were rejecting the vaccine.
“We have not recorded any case of rejection so far, and we are not expecting any because we had held several sensitisation and education with the parents, community and religious leaders.
“You will recall that during the June campaign, seven households rejected the vaccine for their 16 children, which we learnt was partly a protest against their inability to access the mosquito nets recently distributed in the area.
“But when we engaged them and district heads and religious leaders in talks, they were convinced and accepted the vaccine,” he said.
Hakimi commended government at all levels and other development partners for their roles in the smooth conduct of the exercise. (NAN)
NB/KOLE/MST
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Polio: Kiyawa LGC targets 75,804 for immunisation

Polio: Kiyawa LGC targets 75,804 for immunisation
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Immunisation
Kiyawa (Jigawa), July 2, 2018 (NAN) The Kiyawa Local Government Council of Jigawa says it is targeting to immunise 75,804 children against poliomyelitis in the area.
Malam Sunusi Doro, the Information Officer of the council, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.
He explained that the Health Coordinator of the council, Malam Garba Garkon-Ali, has collected 79,100 doses of vaccines from the state Primary Health Care Development Agency for the exercise.
Doro said that 340 ad hoc staff had been recruited for the conduct of the exercise in all nooks and crannies of the local government.
According to him, the primary healthcare coordinator has visited traditional, religious and community leaders on the need to mobilise their subjects to present their children for the immunisation.
The information officer stated that cartons of sweets were purchased by the local government to woo children during the immunisation.
He therefore appealed to parents and guardians to cooperate with the officials to ensure the success of the exercise. (NAN)
AIS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FCTA to immunise 817,000 children against polio

FCTA to immunise 817,000 children against polio
By Mustapha Sumaila
Immunisation
Abuja, June 29, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board says it is targeting 816,978 children for June round of immunisation against polio in the territory.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this at the official flag off ceremony in Abuja on Friday.
Mohammed explained that efforts have been put in place to ensure that all the targeted children were reached during the exercise.
He said the vaccination would commence on June 30 and end by July 3, while the vaccination would take place simultaneously in the six area councils of FCT.
According to him, this exercise will concentrate more on IDPs camps and some slums in the territory.
The scribe warned that this administration would not condone rejection of vaccines by parents as all efforts have been put in place to ensure a hitch free vaccination.
“The Minister has made it clear that anyone who is not ready to accept vaccines for their children should leave the territory.
“No any case of polio in FCT since May 2015 and we will not want anybody that will expose us to such by rejecting the immunisation,” he said.
The Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat in the FCTA, Mrs Amanda Pam, said that the present administration had done well in the interruption of transmission of the wild polio virus.
Represented by Dr Evan Onyekere, the Director, Medical and Diagnostic Department, Pam said that the FCTA had expanded immunisation services to unreached populations such as IDPs camps, nomadic settlements and slums.
She enjoined the chairmen of the area councils to take up the challenge and be part of the polio end game.
“I urge the chairmen to be personally involved in supporting polio eradication and routine immunisation activities,” she said. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FCTA immunises 800,000 children against polio

FCTA immunises 800,000 children against polio
NAN-HG-4
Immunisation
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Dec. 27, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has immunised about 800,000 under five children against polio during the just concluded Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week in Abuja.
Dr Mathew Ashikeni, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, disclosed this on Wednesday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Ashikeni explained that apart from the children vaccinated against polio, the same number of under five children were provided with vitamin A vaccine across the country.
He said that not less than 800,000 of them were also dewormed during the exercise that lasted for one week.
According to him, the Vitamin A which the children receive twice in a year will help to improve vision and boost their immunities.
The secretary disclosed that Nutrition Screening was also conducted for the children with a view to treat those children that were malnourished in the territory.
“We gave virtually all vaccines required for children during the one week exercise including BCG.
“We had 90 per cent coverage across the FCT because of huge awareness creation and media sensitisation before the commencement of the programme in November.
“We even received a lot of calls from residents, asking us to come to their houses to immunise their children.
“There was some pockets of non-compliance in our October SIPD because of the rumour of monkey pox in the territory that time but that has been corrected and people really came out for this vaccination,” he said.
Ashikeni stated that media sensitisation and awareness creation by partners prior to the MNCH week had helped to diffuse misconception about vaccinations in FCT. (NAN)
MS/AOM/MST
Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Muhammad Suleiman Tola