Polio: Yuguda challenges parents
From Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state has appealed to parents to allow their younger ones to be immunized against polio in the current move to eradicate the killer disease in the state.
The governor made the remark last Thursday while flagging off this month campaign on polio eradication at Kafin Madaki village in Ganjuwa local government area of the state.
According to him, he said statistics have shown that polio disease is prevalence in only four countries namely: Afghanistan , Pakistan , India and Nigeria hence the need to put more effort towards eradication of the disease in Bauchi state and the country in general.
He explained that polio cases were more pronounced in the northern part of Nigeria while Katagum local government council in the state has the highest rate of the disease in the state.
He, however, stated that both the state and local governments were making frantic efforts to tackle the menace of the disease through deliberate health policies and programmes aimed at reducing the cases to minimal rate.
He appealed to all stakeholders to contribute positively towards curtailing the trend in the state.
Speaking earlier, the minister of health, Professor Babatunde Ositimehim who was represented by the executive secretary of NPHCDA, Professor Muhammad Ali Fate stated that polio immunization programme is a joint and collaborative effort between the federal, state and local governments.
Professor Babatunde commended the administration of Governor Isa Yuguda for partnering with relevant agencies in trying to eradicate polio in the state and urged him to continue in that direction.
In his address the state commissioner of health, Engineer Muhammad Sama’ila Tela disclosed that polio vaccines are free and acceptable world over hence the need for parents to mobilize their children to receive the immunization.
Similarly, the chairman of Ganjuwa local government council, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu Yakubu highlighted the success he was able to achieve in the area of health care delivery and the routing polio immunization exercise at the local government area.