WHO Scores Adamawa High On Polio Immunisation

World Health Organisation (WHO) has scored Adamawa State high on poliomyelitis vaccination coverage among the North East states.
During a polio review meeting in Yola, the state coordinator of WHO, Dr. Ahemen Terseer, said Adamawa had scored above average due to the state government and stakeholders’ commitment to the fight against the disease.

Terseer expressed gratitude to the traditional rulers and chairmen of the 21 local government areas for their involvement in the fight to ensure the state maintained zero polio level.
Earlier, the state government expressed satisfaction on the success recorded in the maternal newborn and child health week (MNCHW) held in December 2023.

The deputy governor, Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta, who is also the chairperson of the Adamawa State Task Force on Primary Healthcare disclosed that the state recorded a coverage of 103,102 and 102 percent of polio immunisation during the October, November and December rounds respectively.

The deputy governor pledged the administration’s commitment towards improving the health and wellbeing of the people of the state, noting that the government had established new cottage hospitals to strengthen the health sector in Adamawa.

The commissioner for health, Chief Felix Tangwami, and the chairman of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Sulaiman Saidu, commended the state government for the support given to the health sector.

They urged the primary health care workers to remain steadfast and committed in rendering their services to humanity, revealing that there is a mass retirement in the primary health care urging the governor to look into the matter and do the needful.

The director of disease control, Dr Joseph Jacob, and the director of community health, Hajiya Rashida Tahir, who gave the 2023 feedback on immunisation, accused the local governments of non-cooperation.
Tahir said in terms of maternal and child care, they have given 90 percent vitamin A, 96 percent coverage in deworming, 49 percent in multiple vitamins to pregnant women and 21.4 percent in anti- malaria SP in the state.