By:
Aisha Mohammed
Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and other development partners, have reaffirmed strong commitment to immunize one million three hundred and one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, 1,301,785, eligible children aged 0 to 59 months, in the second round of the Sub-National Immunization Plus Days campaign.
The Sub-National Plus Immunization Days, a strategic public health intervention, aims to bridge immunity gaps among children under five.
Director Disease Control and Immunization, at the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Jacob Vasumu said that the second round of the Sub-National Plus Immunization Days, scheduled to hold from May 2 to May 5, with two additional mop-up days, is structured to consolidate previous gains to reach more eligible children in ensuring no child is left vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Vasumu revealed that the state has secured vaccine doses, which exceed the projected needs, to provide a strategic buffer stock.
The Director Disease Control and Immunization emphasized that efforts have been put in place to strengthen sustained stakeholder engagement in addressing misinformation and vaccine hesitancy and solicited Media support in sustaining remarkable progress recorded.
UNICEF Social Behavior Specialist, Jennifer Dabo noted that even though vaccine refusal still exists in minimal, resistance has significantly reduced due to continuous sensitization campaigns and community-level advocacy.
The UNICEF Social Behavior Specialist acknowledged the roles played by religious and traditional institutions in minimizing resistance and stressed the need for a behavioral Change campaign through the Media in Strengthening trust among members of the community in addressing resistance.
Representatives of the World Health Organization, WHO, the Christian Health Association of Nigeria and other partners pledged continued support in protecting the lives of children from age zero to fifty nine months.
