Kaduna Makes ‘Steady Progress’ In Fight Against Polio

By Lawal A. Dogara, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has said the state has been free from Wild Polio Virus (WPV) and Lot Quality Assessment Survey results have shown steady improvement. He stated this during the flagging off ceremony of September 2014 Sub National Immunization plus Days (SIPDs) in Ikara Local government area of the state today.
Governor Yero also disclosed that the State recorded 100 per cent success rate for the July and August 2014 SIPDs LQAs results.
“This achievement I believe has been gotten through our diligent commitment and perseverance towards polio eradication. I will therefore continue to count on you, as you all know that polio eradication is a responsibility for all.”
Earlier, in his own remarks, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Thot Joseph Dogo commended the commitment of the various LGA chairmen, traditional/ religious leaders, the state Ministry of Health, State primary health care agency, partners and stakeholders whose contributions have led to the tremendous achievement we are recording in the state.
“In our quest (toward) ensuring wild polio free status and sustaining our achievement we feel it is very pertinent to intensify our border immunization and that is what informed our flag off at this settlement (Saya saya) which borders Kano State which is harboring wild polio virus. I therefore request all these settlements (along the ) borders to mobilize all parent and care givers to come out en masse to ensure that all children 0-59 months receive 2 potent drops of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
“In that vein, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has provided adequate Vaccines both for the September 2014 SIPDs Campaign and routine immunization.”
The Executive Secretary of State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Sufiyan Mu’awiyyah Babale said the achievement in the state since November 2012 is not unrelated to the collective resolve and consistent commitment towards the noble cause as it is equally on record that Kaduna State has now had 22 consecutive months without a single case of wild polio virus.
Meanwhile,Journalists Against Polio (JAP) ,Kaduna State Chapter is calling on the parents to give support to the Government by allowing their children aged 0-5years to get immumized,saying that the immunization exercise will commence between today 20 – to 23rd September 2014
In a statement signed by Lawal Dogara on behalf of JAP, the group said immunization is a key toward making children to healthier.