By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
Contrary to the poor compliance rate experienced in the last round of polio immunisation exercise in Wurno local government area of Sokoto state, an impressive turnout was recorded weekend during the flagged off another round with a population target of 69,280 children between 0-59 months to be vaccinated across 11 wards during the exercise.
Other local governments slated for similar exercise expected to end Monday are Rabah, Kware, Gwadabawa, Wamakko, Goronyo, Dange Shuni, Bodinga , Sokoto North and Sokoto South respectively.
However, the flag off was performed at Shiyyar Majidadi in Marafa ward with an impressive turn out of children brought by their mothers.
Speaking to reporters on monitoring mission , the Local Immunisation Officer(LIO), Malam Nura Abubakar said the choice of Marafa ward for the flag off was deliberate due to its high record of resistant and non compliance.
” Marafa and Tunga wards are habitually non compliant communities. They have the highest percent of NC.
” We had to review and work on our plan by dialogue with house holds, restrategise and intensify our social mobilisation and liaise with community leaders of affected areas to convince them as well employ locals on weekly market days to get them immunised”, he explained.
According to Abubakar, all the doses of vaccines had been received and distributed to the team of vaccinators, adding that” though, we received 69,850 doses with a target of 69,280 children to be immunised.”
He expressed optimism that the exercise would record remarkable success without resistance” women have been adequately sensitized and we are seeing it from the children presented for vaccination”, he said.
” We are commending the LG chairman, state government, UNICEF, WHO and Core group Abuja for supporting the exercise”, according to the LIO.
Commenting, Core group Management Support Team official, Hajiya Binta Muhammad called on primary stakeholders to encourage more women involvement in immunisation activities in the state” Women supervisors are inadequate to help in the drive to terminate resistance and non compliance through responsive house to house sensitization and awareness campaign that will strongly persuade more female parents to present their children in order to meet expected coverage target”, She advised.
She however noted with delight the children were being presented for vaccination even as the Core group Official observed that the Pluses played vital role in influencing some children to make themselves available for vaccination.
” I was amazed seeing a child running to be vaccinated because of the little sweets and others defying attempt by his mother to stop him. Is a good and wonderful thing”, Hajiya Muhammad said
