Gombe State Government has commenced the 2024 National Immunisation Plus Days in the state targeting a total of 981, 710 children with the vaccination.
The State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, began the exercise on Friday, saying that his administration will prioritize the provision of effective and efficient healthcare services.
This came despite the recent fire that razed the Central Medical Store which destroyed drugs, vaccines, and other medical consumables worth over N5b.
Inuwa Yahaya, represented by his Deputy, Manassah Jatau, flagged off the exercise at Nasarawo in Gombe Local Government Area.
He thanked God for making the exercise take place despite the sad and unfortunate fire incident that burnt down one of the five cold stores where vaccines worth over N5,000,000,000 were burnt.
” My distinguished guests, you will attest to the fact that since the debut of this administration, on 29th May 2019, it has placed health as a top priority area. Accordingly, it never failed to conduct all scheduled rounds of National Immunization and Vaccination exercises without any skipping, the Governor said.
He added, “This is for obvious facts highlighted by earlier philosophers and of recent a world philanthropist on health matters who maintained these stands, that cannot be faulted: Intellectuals solve problems, genius prevent them- Albert Einstein. Treatment without prevention is simply unsustainable -Bill Gates and, Prevention is better than cure- Desiderius Erasmus(1500).”
He also said, “Immunization and Vaccination which are the present/ modern measures of preventing a disease is not really new. Some Societies ( Idoma, Waja, etc) practiced it even before the coming of modern medicine and so we should accept it.”
“My appeal therefore, is that we should embrace it, especially at this very critical weather that we are facing in the north, where spread of diseases is aided by so many factors like migration, winds that are blowing, heat, scarcity of water, lack of good food and the rest,” he added.
Inuwa commended the development partners, monarchs, religious and community leaders, and government officials in charge of immunisation/ vaccination for their continued support towards meeting the health needs of the people in the state.
Speaking, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, lauded the Governor’s resilience and contributions of the development partners as well as the federal Ministry of Health for making the event happen in spite of recent burning of the medical store.
He explained that the campaign is marking the commencement of the 2024 first quarter vaccination against Polio, urging people to take precautionary measures against meningitis by leaving in ventilated space, immediately reporting cases of fever, headache, and stiff-necked-ness.
The Commissioner noted that the Polio vaccination has a targeted population of 981,710 with adequate dosage to cover and called on the people to ensure that their children within the targeted age are vaccinated.
The Executive Secretary, State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahaman Shuaibu represented by Dr. Maryam Abubakar, Director, Community and Family Health said that the National Immunization Plus Days is to protect children from Polio.
Abdulrahman Shuaibu appreciated the state government and the development partners for ensuring that the campaign is flagged-off as scheduled in spite of the recent fire disaster which consumed the medical store.
In his vote of thanks, the Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Mohammed, who is also the Deputy Chairman Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, thanked the state government’s effort to ensure that citizens enjoy good health.
He then enjoined the state government to place the Ward Heads on salaries or certain allowances for them to be able to contribute immensely to state and nation building.
He urged parents to bring their children out for vaccination for the campaign against Polio to be successful.
Dr.Faruk Ismail of World Health Organization delivered a goodwill message on behalf of all other development partners, pledging their continued support to the government while also commending the Governor for remaining resolute in the provision of quality healthcare to the citizenry.
The inspiring moment of the occasion was the cultural display and drama presentation by the Gombe cultural troupe and Kainuwa Dashen Allah Group, amongst others.
