Bauchi Targets 2.6M Children For Oral Polio Vaccine

Bauchi State government has set a target of 2.6 million children in the ongoing Supplemental Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs) for the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), with approximately 1.7 million doses distributed across the state.

The executive chairman of the State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this during the launch of the exercise at Bayan Fada Primary Health Care Centre in Bauchi metropolis.

He said vaccination teams had been deployed in all the 20 local government areas, on a house-to- house tmission to reach every eligible child.

Mohammed explained that the integrated campaign targets children aged 0 to 59 months with the Oral Polio Vaccine, while those aged one to 59 months will also receive Azithromycin to protect them against child-killer infections.

He expressed optimism that the exercise would significantly reduce the number of children receiving no doses across the state.

In her remarks, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said more than 2,000 children were missed in the previous round due to parental refusal, urging stakeholders to intensify mobilisation efforts.

She also commended parents who have continued to present their children for vaccination and encouraged them to sustain the practice.