By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
The Emir of Dass and chairman Bauchi State Emirate Committee on Health, Usman Bilyaminu Othman has assured the state government of the traditional institution’s dedication to sustain the sensitisation of parents to access health services, especially immunization against vaccines preventable diseases.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 2022 World Immunization/ African vaccination week that took place at his palace on Wednesday, Othman said over the years, traditional institutions had continued to be at the forefront in mobilising communities to access health care services.
“Different platforms have been established to co-ordinate the activities of this institution like the Taskforce on immunization and PHC, Northern Traditional Leaders Council and the Sultan Foundation
“Under these platforms, the traditional leaders were able to create demand for routine immunization and resolved non compliance, especially during polio and non polio activities.
“We participated in the implementation of the community engagement strategy where children under one year are line listed and tracked for immunization, Bauchi was the first state to do so and it was later adopted by the National after some modifications,” the Emir said.
He added that the traditional institution is actively involved in debunking rumors and misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
The permanent secretary, Bauchi state ministry of Health, Ali Babayo said the world immunization/ African vaccination week with theme: “Long Life for All”, seeks to unify people around the idea that vaccines enable them to follow their dreams.
“Vaccines protects our loved ones to live a long and healthy life.”
Babayo said the week will provide routine immunization for children under the age of two years, reactive vaccination to curtail the ongoing measles outbreak, outbreak response to curtail the occurrence of circulating mutant polio virus and expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination.
The Executive Secretary Bauchi state Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Rilwanu Mohammed said the World Health Organisation marks the world immunization week in conjunction with African vaccination week to showcase importance of vaccines and how it protects people against more than 25 vaccine preventable diseases.
“Currently some communities in the state have reported cases of measles and efforts is on to vaccinate all eligible children.”
Mohammed added that the state has integrated COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization as a strategy to strengthen immunization.
