Govt targets 700,000 children for vaccination against measles

Dr Farouk Wakili, the Chairman of Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, on Saturday said a five-day vaccination against measles, targeted at 700,000 children in the state, had commenced.

Wakili told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi that 7,775 trained health personnel were conducting the vaccination in 225 wards comprising 1,125 centres.

At the Maiyama Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Mohammed Attahiru, said 72,000 children would be reached in the area during the exercise.

The district head of Maiyama, Adamu Aliyu, who led a campaign to ensure success of the exercise, said parents had been mobilised to ensure that their children were vaccinated.

The Director of Health in the council, Ahmed Wakili, said traditional leaders, parents and opinion leaders had been mobilised to support the exercise.

‘’We hope to achieve the set target," he said.

The Sole Administrator of Bunza Local Government, Alhaji Mohammad Dandare, also said the vaccination would be conducted in all designated centres and the people had been mobilised to ensure its success.

In Kalgo Council, the Sole Administrator, Alhaii Musa Hassan, said strategies had been adopted to ensure parents present their children for the vaccination.

According to him, the people are aware of the long term benefits of the vaccination.

The district head of the area, Alhaji Haruna Jada, said enlightenment campaign would be sustained to ensure all children are vaccinated during the exercise.