Kebbi State government has flagged off the vaccination of children between the ages of 5 to 11 against malaria.
The exercise is an inaugural event held in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, respectively. The federal government chose the two states for the inaugural programme.
Speaking during the programme’s flag-off, Governor Nasir Idris, represented by his deputy, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, applauded the federal government for its proactive plans to fight malaria.
He said the flag-off of the programme is aimed at the eradication of malaria in the state.
Senator Tafida also informed the households and care-mothers that the vaccine is free, safe and effective.
Also speaking, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Sokoto, Michael Juma, represented by the Social Policy
Specialist, Isah Ibrahim, disclosed that Nigeria accounts for 31% of all malaria deaths worldwide, with about 200,000 deaths recorded every year in Nigeria (World Malaria Report 2023).
Ibrahim added that children under the age of five years and women who are pregnant are most affected by malaria noting that Kebbi State is ranked among the highest malaria burden in Nigeria with a prevalence rate of 49% which is more than twice the national average.
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