Sokoto government has immunised one million children against measles and other child killer diseases across the state in the last three months, just as it said it will provide cold stores for storage of vaccines in rural areas to ensure children at the grassroots level get vaccinated on time.
Briefing Governor Aminu Tambuwal on progress of the ongoing immunisation efforts, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Shehu Kakale, said renewed commitment by the government has resulted in reaching many remote locations for the administering of vaccines on children.
A statement issued by Tambuwal’s spokesman, Imam Imam, on Sunday quoted Kakale as saying that stakeholders in the health sector have commended the government and have now adopted the ‘Tambuwal Initiative’ in enhancing the work of health field officers in their localities.
“The Tambuwal Initiative came about after the Governor introduced new measures to boost immunisation and healthcare activities. These measures include setting aside two hours of his time every month to chair the meeting of the steering committee on immunisation in the state, directing top government functionaries, led by the Deputy Governor, to chair the bi-monthly meeting on polio.
“Also, the initiative ensures that the Governor, through the ministry for local government, takes charge of the payment of entitlements of officials for Routine Immunisation (RI) and Immunisation Plus Day (IPDs), personally taking charge of engagement with all non-compliant communities and assigning all local government areas to cabinet members to ensure hands-on approach in dealing with immunisation and other health issues,” Kakale added.
The Commissioner said even though there are cases of parents sceptical about having their children immunised, the number has reduced drastically, due to enlightenment campaigns and community dialogue embarked upon by the state government in collaboration with religious and traditional leaders.
