Ganduje flags off October Polio immunisation programme in Kano

Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has flagged off the October round of National Immunisation Exercise against polio in Rano local government area of the state.

Demonstrating the exercise, the governor personally immunised six children with polio vaccine and demonstrated hand washing openly to mark this year United Nations’ Hand Washing Day during the event.

Ganduje, who said that the routine exercise was to ensure that 100 percent children equivalent to over 3.2million target population for polio immunisation exercise in the State are adequately captured to stem the spread of the virus, noted that for almost two and half years now, the state has not recorded new polio case, hence the need for unrelenting campaigns to maintain the status.

He commended the traditional rulers and other key stakeholders for working hand in hand with health workers towards ensuring that all children are immunised, adding that there are no cases of resistance in the recent time in the State.

In his speech, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso said the exercise would last for four days, adding that enough vaccines were provided as well as permanent staff were engaged to ensure full implementation of the Polio Immunisation across the state.

He also inspected the exercise in Bunkure and Dawakin Kudu local Government areas shortly after the flag off exercise.

In his remarks, the Emir of Kano represented by the District Head of Ajingi, Alh Wada Aliyu said the emirate council and other stakeholders are much concerned over the permanent effect of disability being caused by the polio virus, therefore directing all traditional leaders to enforce compliance by ensuring that their people present their wards for adequate immunisation against the virus.

Also in her remarks, UNICEF Chief Officer from Katsina Zonal Office, Mrs Padmah Wetty charged parents to inculcate the habit of hygienic protection by embracing the culture of frequent hand washing, pointing out that due to unhygienic lifestyle, millions of people die of diarrhea each year.

On Polio immunisation, Mrs Wetty said she was impressed that the Kano State is really committed towards polio eradication, appreciating the fact that since 2014 no new case was recorded in the state.