Govt to immunise 1.8m children against measles

No fewer than 1.8 million children would be immunised against measles in the 23 Local Government Areas of Sokoto State between Nov. 21 and Nov.25.

Dr Sani Labaran, Executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the state made the disclosure in Sokoto on Saturday at a rally organised to mark the World Polio Day.

''The four-day exercise is expected to be conducted between Nov. 21 and Nov.25 and its aimed at saving the lives of these children, who are more vulnerable to the killer-disease.

'' It is being planned due to the successes so far recorded in the ongoing efforts to completely wipe out polio from Nigeria.

'' The country had now been removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in the world, and the efforts must be sustained to ensure that it is declared polio-free in the next eighteen months,'' he added.

Labaran also promised that the state government would strengthen routine immunisation, as well as continue to prioritise the health sector in general.

Mr Fred Musoke of UNICEF ''C'' Field Office, Kaduna, at the occasion, commended the state government, the Sultanate Council of Sokoto and the people of the state for their sustained commitment to eradicate polio.

Musoke, who stressed the need to strengthen routine immunisation, warned against complacency in the ongoing struggle to kick polio out of Nigeria

Th state Secretary of the Northern Traditional Rulers Committee on Polio Immunisation, Sheikh Sani Kwanni reiterated the commitment of the committee to work round the clock to ensure the eradication of the disease.