By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Borno State Government, has flagged off a 10-days vaccination campaign on fIPV and nOPV across the 27 local government areas in the state.
The fIPV which stands for Fractional doses of the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine and nOPV which stands for Novel Oral Poliomyelitis (polio) Vaccine type-2 is targeting children of 0-59 months.
Speaking at the flag off, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Professir Baba M. Gana, represented by the State Director, Disease Control and Immunizations, Ministry of Health, Dr Aliyu Shettima said, the vaccination team will be situated in a fixed and strategic locations including schools, markets, orphanage homes, motor parks, and other public gatherings.
Dr Shettima added that, “the traditional and religious leaders present here will play a vital role in achieving the overall objective of this campaign. And I also want to appreciate partners for their continual support.”
According to him, the vaccination campaign is targeting more than two million children across the states, including those situated in hard-to-reach areas.
The WHO Borno State acting State Coordinator, Dr Moisule Hussaini Ganga said World Health Organization will continue to support the state government to immunize eligible children including those in hard-to-reach locations.
He added that the campaign has the capacity to eliminate any potential virus including the wild polio virus, and we are optimistic that we will achieve more than 100%.
“I must commend the effort of the state government, and WHO remains committed to keying into the state’s objective in ensuring access to health services is provided,” Dr Moisule said.
Others partners at the flag off include UNICEF, Rotary, AFENET, and others.
