By Zubairu Idris

The Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCA) says it is targeting not less than 3 million children during the forthcoming polio immunisation campaign scheduled for April 26 to 29.

Its Executive Secretary, Dr Shamsudeen Yahaya, made the disclosure at a media dialogue with UNICEF, Katsina State Government officials and partners on polio and routine immunisation, in Katsina.

During the week, he said, the world would also be celebrating routine immunisation.

Yahaya said that the exercise was aimed at creating awareness on the importance of immunisation in saving children from preventable deaths.

He, therefore, urged the media to continue to enlighten caregivers and other stakeholders on the importance of immunisation.

The executive secretary revealed that the state has 1,636 health facilities providing routine immunisation services for children.

Yahaya said that the government would engage 3,700 independent monitors to ensure that each eligible child was reached during the campaign.

In his remarks, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC), who is also the Nutrition Manager, UNICEF Kano Field Office, Dr Karanveer Singh, stressed the need for immunising every child from the polio and other deadly diseases.

He revealed that polio was highly infectious, warning, “once a child is infected with the virus, he or she is permanently paralysed.”

The officer explained that every round of immunisation was important, likewise immunising every child, until the virus was completely eradicated.

Singh said that immunisation was the backbone of any eradication programme, adding, “hence the need for caregivers and other stakeholders to intensify efforts in ensuring that all children below five years are fully immunised.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani