Kano celebrates 64 months without Polio outbreak

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, said the state spent 64 months without the outbreak of polio in Kano “saying his administration would continue to intensify its commitment on the fight against polio and other child-killer diseases in the state.”

Ganduje represented by his deputy, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, disclosed this during the flag-off ceremony of January 2020 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) held at Tofa town in Tofa Local Government Area, however, said this success so far achieved is one of the feedback of the administration’s commitment towards improving the health sector in the last four years.

According to him, “presently, Kano State Government has approved huge amount of money for the construction of a hospital at our four new Emirates and not only that, the administration has commenced the construction of one of the best cancer centre at Giginyu for the benefit of our teeming populace.

“It is part of the cardinal agenda of this administration to eradicate polio and fight against the spread of other child-killer diseases in the state. This is the reason behind our outstanding record of spending good 64 months without the outbreak of polio in Kano.

“It is obvious that our administration in the last four years has succeeded in accomplishing our campaign promises, especially on health. These include construction/upgrading of hospitals across 44 local government areas, procurement of new working facilities and training of health personnel among others,” Ganduje said.

The governor further unveiled the plans of his administration towards the general improvement of the state ministry of health, upgrading of the state’s hospitals and revitalising the Primary Healthcare sector to allow people to have direct access to the efficient healthcare services.

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He further acknowledged with appreciation how traditional rulers complement government’s effort on healthcare delivery especially in terms of polio and routine immunisations programs, stressing that “the state also applauds and thanks to other development partners for their immense contributions towards polio eradication programmes in the state.”

The governor who implored the Local Government Areas, traditional rulers and parents to redouble effort in ensuring success of the exercise, announced that “during the programme, health workers would be going to houses, streets and other health centres to vaccinate the children, so make sure that no rejection or child absence is being recorded throughout the period.”

In his remarks, the State Commissioner Ministry of Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, represented by the Director-General, Kano State Hospital Management Board, Dr Nasiru Alasan Kabo, explained that the exercise which would commence from 11th to 14th January 2020 is expected to cover over 3.5 million children under the age of five years.

He revealed that the state had procured 3,732,040 vaccines to be distributed to the 44 Local Government Areas of the state for effective immunisation exercise.

“We should always not forget with implications of polio to the lives of our children and that explains the need for us to join hands in the crusade to eradicate the disease once and for all,” said the commissioner.