Sokoto govt approves 26 cooling systems to boost polio vaccine storage

Sokoto State Government has approved the purchase of 26 new cooling systems to strengthen the storage and distribution of polio vaccines across the state.

The approval was announced on Wednesday by the State Chairman of the Task Force Committee on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunisation, who is also the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir, during a meeting of the committee at the Deputy Governor’s Conference Hall.

According to Gobir, each of the 23 Local Government Areas and the three zonal offices will receive one cooling system each to enhance the effective preservation of vaccines.

The Deputy Governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar Wurno, explained that weak or non-functional storage systems at the local government level had contributed to the poor performance of previous immunisation campaigns.

“The provision of these cooling systems will guarantee active vaccines, ensuring that the desired goals of eradicating polio in Sokoto State are achieved.”

“The meeting would also address other challenges affecting the exercise, including poor data collection, political interference, and negative attitudes from some personnel involved in the campaign.”

Gobir assured the committee that the state government remained fully committed to implementing suggestions and strategies aimed at improving the immunisation exercise.

He expressed optimism that the next round of polio vaccination, scheduled for 11–14 September, would record better coverage and performance.

Earlier, the Special Adviser, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Muhammad Bello Marnona, described the meeting as an opportunity to adopt a unified strategy to rid the state of the polio virus.

He expressed confidence that identifying and addressing the challenges hindering smooth immunisation would enhance the state’s drive towards complete polio eradication.

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