Katsina Targets 19,790 Settlements In Major Immunisation Drive

The Katsina State Government has announced plans to target 19,790 Settlements across the state in the comprehensive immunisation and child health campaign aimed at reducing preventable diseases and improving child survival across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Shamsudee Yahaya, disclosed this while addressing journalists, stressing that the 28th / 29th exercise will focus primarily on children from birth to nine months, as well as those under the age of five.

According to him, the campaign is part of a broader strategy to strengthen routine immunisation and deliver essential healthcare services to children at the community level.

He explained that the initiative would run alongside routine immunisation programmes, ensuring that eligible children receive vaccines at birth, six weeks, ten weeks, fourteen weeks, and up to nine months.

“This campaign is designed to ensure that all children who may have missed their vaccines are reached. It is also an opportunity to strengthen routine immunisation and protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases,” he said.

Dr. Yahaya noted that the intervention would involve house-to-house visits, outreach services, and the deployment of special teams to reach underserved and hard-to-access communities.

He added that the government, in collaboration with development partners and local stakeholders, has developed detailed micro-plans at state, local government, and community levels to ensure full coverage.

The Executive Secretary called on parents and caregivers to take advantage of the exercise by making their children available for vaccination, describing immunisation as a safe and effective way to prevent deadly childhood illnesses.

He also urged media organisations to play an active role in sensitising the public and mobilising communities for the exercise.

“Beyond reporting, we expect the media to help amplify the message and encourage participation. Parents should open their doors and ensure their children benefit from these life-saving services,” he said.

Dr. Yahaya further assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the success of the campaign, including the training of healthcare workers, provision of logistics, and strengthening of supervision mechanisms.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving primary healthcare services and ensuring that no child is left behind in the fight against preventable diseases.

The campaign is expected to significantly boost immunisation coverage and contribute to better health outcomes for children across Katsina State.