United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Taraba State government, has commenced integrated immunisation of more than one million children against life-threatening diseases.
Chief of UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, who disclosed this at the flag-off of the polio vaccination campaign in Jalingo, emphasised the importance of vaccinating every child within the ages of 0 to 5 years, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
Rafique said the immunisation campaign is aimed at ensuring that polio and other life-threatening diseases are eradicated in Taraba.
“Today is important to every child in Taraba, as polio is one of the diseases that needs to be curbed.
“There are more than one million children in Taraba and each of them needs to have this vaccine.
“My special request for you fathers and mothers is that you avail your children for this vaccination.
“You need to do this because this is the last support for the polio vaccine and the whole world is looking at Nigeria for the eradication of polio,” she said.
Speaking, Taraba State Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, and Chairman of Jalingo Local Government Area, Dr Jauro Hassan commended the robust relationship between UNICEF and the state government.
He lauded Governor Agbu Kefas for always releasing counterpart funds promptly for a comprehensive vaccination of children.
Pledging to mobilise other local government chairmen to support the exercise, Hassan charged parents to avail their children for the vaccination exercise.
In his remark, the Executive Secretary of Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Nuhu Tukura thanked UNICEF and other partners for their constant support for Taraba children.
Tukura explained that the integrated immunisation initiative combines routine vaccinations with other essential health interventions, including vitamin A supplement, deworming, nutrition and health education.
According to him, the initiative is to improve child survival rate and reduce the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases.
