By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA) Dr Bilaminu Yari has assured that efforts is been stepped up towards ensuring a Sokoto free of polio case.
Dr. Bilyaminu who spoke at an end of the year Media Parley and Stakeholders Dinner organized by Sokoto State Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) in collaboration with Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Africa Field Epidemiology Network and support from Global Allaince and Immunization (GAVI) assured that polio vaccines and other vaccines are safe, healthy and must be accepted by all.
While appreciating AHBN and other development partners for their continued support towards ending not only polio but any other outbreak in Nigeria and Sokoto in particular, Dr. Bilyaminu said, strategies have been put in place to ensure that the 13 local government areas of Sokoto with zero dose cases are addressed.
Part of the strategies, according to Bilyaminu is bringing healthcare closer to the people which led to the increase of primary health facilities in the state from 244 to 384.
“So, I am calling on all as sundry to make sure that they accept the immunization, because we don’t want any child to be left behind. We want every child to be fully vaccinated with the life saving vaccines.
‘The vaccine is free, safe, and it’s available across all the health facilities, even the primary health centers across the state. So I am calling on parents, guardians, and caregivers to make sure that they go to the nearest health facilities for their children be vaccinated against the five child killer diseases”, Dr Bilyaminu appealed.
Earlier, Sokoto State Focal Person of AHBN, Umar Garba Khadi said the State with active support of the Committee Of Practice (COP) has done tremendously well on areas of advocacy, influencing policy direction, improvement and release of health budget.
Affirming the assessment, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of AHBN, Dr Aminu Garba Magashi thanked Sokoto for the recent release of 356 million naira meant for health services delivery in the State.
However, at the media parley, issues of non-compliant especially from within the elite settlements, insecurity and timely release of health related bugdetary allocations were observed as matters that must be addressed if the desired end to polio is to be achieved in Sokoto.
