The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Bauchi State Government have commenced a seven-day immunisation exercise aimed at vaccinating 127,550 children in Toro Local Government Area (LGA).
Local Immunisation Officer for Toro LGA, Musa Danladi, said the initiative seeks to reduce polio-related diseases, child mortality, and other vaccine-preventable illnesses, while improving child health across the LGA.
Danladi explained that, through a collaborative effort with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), 32 ward Focal Persons and Field Volunteers were trained at the LGA level to carry out the exercise. The campaign was flagged off in Tilde Ward, an area historically noted for low vaccine compliance.
“We have a team of vaccinators going street by street to immunise children outside their homes. Our house-to-house team carries the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (NOPV) to ensure all eligible children aged zero to 59 months are reached,” Danladi said.
He added that fixed vaccination posts have been set up in all 17 wards, where children aged zero to 23 months receive all vaccine antigens, including NOPV, BCG, Hepatitis B, IPV, and PCV.
Danladi noted that the LGA has achieved 99 percent vaccine compliance, attributing the success to the support of the LGA chairman and the combined efforts of UNICEF and the state government.
“UNICEF is supporting community leaders, campaign mobilisers, and town announcers. The provision of vaccines by UNICEF and other development partners has been critical to reaching these 127,550 eligible children,” he added.
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UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Bauchi State, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said that over 1.7 million eligible children have been reached and vaccinated in the state. She emphasised that immunisation is a key strategy to save children’s lives, keep them healthy, and enable them to reach their potential, particularly in the most vulnerable and remote areas.
Ahmed Suleiman, Consultant at Magama Primary Healthcare Centre in Toro, said parents have been actively bringing their children for vaccination following mobilization and sensitisation efforts by the team.
Danladi called on residents to continue complying with all vaccination campaigns to ensure Toro LGA becomes free from vaccine-preventable diseases.