By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has said the state has been free from Wild Polio Virus (WPV) as Lot Quality Assessment Survey results have shown steady improvement.
The governor stated this during the flagging off ceremony of September 2014 Sub National Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs) in Ikara local government area of the state last week.
Yero also disclosed that the state recorded 100 per cent success rate for the July and August 2014 SIPDs LQAs results.
He said: “This achievement, I believe, has been gotten through our diligent commitment and perseverance towards polio eradication. I will therefore continue to count on you, as you all know that polio eradication is a responsibility for all.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Thot Joseph Dogo, commended the commitment of the various LG chairmen, traditional/religious leaders, the Ministry of Health, State Primary Healthcare Agency, partners and stakeholders whose contributions had led to the tremendous achievements being recorded in the state.
He said: “In our quest towards ensuring wild polio free status and sustaining our achievements, we feel it is very pertinent to intensify our border immunisation and that is what informed our flag off at this settlement Saya saya, which borders Kano state, and harbouring wild polio virus.
“I, therefore, request all these settlements borders to mobilise all parents and care givers to come out en masse to ensure that all children of 0-59 months receive two potent drops of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
“In that vein, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has provided adequate vaccines both for the September 2014 SIPDs campaign and routine immunisation.”
Executive Secretary of State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Sufiyan Mu’awiyyah Babale, said the achievement in the state since November 2012, was not unrelated to the collective resolve and “consistent commitment towards the noble cause as it is equally on ecord that Kaduna state is now 22 consecutive months without a single case of wild polio virus.”
