Adamawa: Fintiri flags off national immunization plus days

In an effort to keep Adamawa State free from polio, Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri yesterday flagged off the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) in the state.

The governor, who officially launched the April 2025 round of the NIPDs campaign, called on parents to participate and ensure their children are immunised.

The event, held at the Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in Malkohi, Yola South Local Government Area, marked the beginning of the 2025 rounds of immunization aimed at preventing the disease.

Governor Fintiri, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Mijinyawa Yayaji, emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and futures of children against vaccine-preventable diseases, especially poliomyelitis.

He stressed that the occasion was more than a routine launch, calling it a declaration of collective commitment to reach every child, in every community, no matter how remote.

He added, “No child must be left behind in the immunization campaign.”

“Today, we reaffirm that no child must be left behind; we must reach every child in every ward, every settlement, and every household, whether in the heart of the city or in the most remote hamlets,” he said.

The governor commended the resilience and dedication of health workers, community mobilisers, and development partners who continue to ensure vaccines reach children despite difficult terrain and insecurity.

He also appreciated the crucial support of traditional and religious leaders, urging them to continue encouraging communities to embrace immunization programmes.

Governor Fintiri assured the public of his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s primary healthcare system through investments in infrastructure, staffing, logistics, and accountability.

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He reiterated that immunization remains a top priority not only for polio but also for other childhood diseases such as measles, yellow fever, pneumonia, and meningitis.

Addressing parents and caregivers, Governor Fintiri urged them to ensure that every eligible child under five years of age receives the oral polio vaccine during the campaign, regardless of their previous immunization status, stressing that the vaccines are safe, free, and effective.

“Even though Nigeria was declared polio-free in 2020, the threat of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) remains. Therefore, maintaining high population immunity and strong surveillance is crucial to prevent any resurgence,” he added.

The event was attended by the Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Suleiman Bashir, among other development partners.

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