The Gombe State government has urged residents to support campaigns to end killer diseases among children in the state.
Dr Nuhu Bile, State Epidemiologist at the Gombe State Ministry of Health, made the call during a media interactive session on Tuesday in Gombe.
The meeting marked the commencement of the 2025 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).
Bile said it was imperative for residents to continue embracing efforts by the state government and development partners to improve the health of mothers and children.
He assured residents that the vaccines being administered to their children are safe and beneficial.
“The state government is embarking on another round of outbreak response due to an increasing number of circulating vaccine-derived polio cases. This is to immunize children and reach those who missed previous rounds.
“The oral polio vaccine is safe and can be repeated every three months. For immunization to succeed, it is important that the people understand its benefits and know that it is not harmful,” he said.
Bile added that the ministry aimed to improve community engagement through effective collaboration with the media to create awareness, educate residents about vaccines, and highlight that the immunization programme is free.
He also commended residents for their large turnout during the Measles-Rubella vaccination exercise, which achieved 98 per cent coverage.
Mr Muhammad Bawa, State Nutrition Officer, said the MNCHW exercise would be officially launched on Friday in Balanga Local Government Area.
Bawa explained that the initiative aims to provide an integrated health package, including vaccination and antenatal care, to strengthen routine primary healthcare services.
He added that the exercise is designed to increase coverage of key preventive and curative interventions, thereby improving the health of mothers and children.
Raymond George, Deputy State Health Education Officer, said the meeting also aimed to update media practitioners and social media influences on the State Immunization Plus Days.
George urged the media to disseminate accurate information on immunization and help set the agenda for improving vaccine coverage and acceptance in the state.
The event was attended by 30 journalists and social media influences.
