The Federal Government and the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency are targeting 130,000 children for polio vaccination in two local government areas of the state.
Dr Vasumu Jacob, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the agency, disclosed this at a media roundtable on Friday in Yola.
He said the campaign, implemented under the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) is scheduled for Nov. 5 to Nov. 12, targeting children aged zero to 59 months in Gombi and Fufore Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Jacob said the campaign was part of efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and development partners to strengthen children’s immunity.
He explained that the intervention would cover selected high-risk areas across 19 states, including two priority LGAs in Adamawa.
According to him, the selection of Gombi and Fufore followed an assessment of immunisation coverage and previous outbreaks of circulating poliovirus.
“We looked at some risk factors, including immunisation coverage and outbreaks of circulating poliovirus in these LGAs over the years.
“We also considered data on routine immunisation coverage to identify priority areas for the intervention,” he said.
Jacob said the campaign would provide an opportunity to strengthen children’s immunity and prevent further transmission of poliovirus in the affected communities.
In his remarks, Babangida Usman, the Immunisation Focal Person, World Health Organization (WHO), reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the state government and other stakeholders.
Usman commended the Adamawa Government, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, development partners, traditional and religious leaders for their continued efforts towards polio eradication.
He described polio as a highly infectious disease that mainly affects children under five and could cause permanent paralysis.
“However, polio is preventable through safe and effective vaccination, every child missed during vaccination represents a potential risk to that child and other children in the community,” he said.
According to him, the campaign will help close immunity gaps, reach underserved communities and strengthen efforts to interrupt poliovirus transmission.
He urged parents and caregivers in Gombi and Fufore to ensure that all eligible children received the vaccine, regardless of their previous vaccination history.
Usman also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and community influencers to intensify awareness campaigns and address misconceptions about vaccination.
He urged journalists to disseminate accurate information, counter vaccine misinformation and encourage parents to present their children for vaccination.
The WHO representative said the organisation would provide technical guidance, coordination, monitoring and operational support to ensure the campaign’s effectiveness.
Also speaking, Ms Ruth Chukwumereze, a representative of Corona Management Systems, commended the state government and the health agency for engaging the media ahead of the campaign.
She described the media as a critical partner in addressing misinformation and building public confidence in vaccination.
“The vaccine is safe, free and life-saving, our collective call to action is simple: let every eligible child be reached, wherever they are, including hard-to-reach settlements,” she said.
She called for collective efforts to ensure that no eligible child or community was left behind in the vaccination exercise.
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