Khadijah Aliyu
The Kano state government has launched the 2024 polio outbreak response campaign (OBR5) in Tudun Wada local government area.
The campaign, organized by the Kano State Ministry of Health and development partners, aims to educate caregivers about the importance of polio immunization and target thousands of children under five for the November 2024 OBR5.
Speaking at the launching, the Kano state deputy governor who doubles as chairman Kano State Task Force on Polio Immunization Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo explained that, the present administration under Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf considers polio era a top priority.
“KNSG is working round the clock to ensure quality healthcare delivery across the 44 local government areas”
Represented by the state commissioner for health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, he noted that, the campaign is crucial, as Tudun Wada local government area has the highest number of polio cases in Kano this year.
Dr. Abubakar described polio as a deadly disease that causes paralysis and sometimes death, saying that it can be prevented through immunization.
He pointed out that, Kano state government is working assiduously in collaboration with the federal government and development partners to ensure children are protected from polio.
The chairperson Tudun Wada local government area, Hajiya Sa’adatu Salisu Yusha’u stressed that they will provide all the necessary support to eradicate polio form Kano and Nigeria at large.
The emir of Kano Malam Muhammadu Sunusi II represented by Bauran Kano Alhaji Abbas Maje Dalhatu commended Kano state government for it’s resilience in the fight against polio.
He described Immunization is a major catalyst to eradicating childhood killer diseases such as polio.
In his goodwill message the WHO country representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, represented by the team lead, WHO Kano, Dr Mayana Abubakar, expressed readiness to do everything possible to support Kano on health-related issues.
He urged the state to maintain the tempo in the fight against polio to achieve the desired objectives.
Others who spoke include representatives from UNICEF, SOLINA, Global Polio Eradication and AFINET among others.