Kano Targets 1.38m Women In Second Round Of Tetanus Elimination Campaign

Kano State government has flagged off the second round of the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) campaign, targeting 1,388,396 women of reproductive age across 18 high-risk local government areas.

At the ceremony held at the Kano Emergency Operations Centre, the commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, said the exercise was aimed at protecting women and girls aged 15 to 49 years and their newborns from maternal and neonatal tetanus, a preventable but life-threatening disease.

Labaran said the second phase was designed to consolidate the gains recorded during the first round conducted in May, which achieved 96.5 per cent coverage after 1,339,871 women were vaccinated.

He said, “Although we recorded significant success during the first round, about 1,191 settlements were not reached. Round Two provides us with another opportunity to close these gaps and ensure that no eligible woman is left behind.”

According to him, vaccination teams will prioritise unreached settlements and other underserved communities, with temporary vaccination posts established in health facilities, markets, schools, places of worship and other public locations.

The Commissioner said the state had deployed vaccines and logistics for the exercise, while vaccination teams, supervisors and community mobilisers had been fully prepared to ensure effective implementation.

He urged women who received the first dose during the initial round to return for subsequent doses to achieve stronger and longer-lasting protection, stressing that the vaccines were free, safe and effective.

Labaran also appealed to husbands, parents, traditional and religious leaders, community groups and the media to support the campaign by encouraging eligible women to receive the vaccine and help to combat misinformation.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Abba Yusuf-led administration to eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus through sustained immunisation, improved antenatal care, skilled birth attendance and strengthened primary healthcare services.

The Commissioner commended the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, Rotary, AFENET, CORE Group, Solina and the Gates Foundation for supporting the campaign.