An NGO, Sightsavers has commenced the immunization of 20,000 children in Wamakko local Government Area part of it’s effort to reduce child mortality rate in Sokoto State.
The State Program Officer, Mr Muhammad Rilwan, stated this at the inauguration of the 5-day exercise in Kalambaina community on Thursday.
Rilwan said children from one to 11 months would be administered with Azithromycin vaccines.
He said that Wamakko LGA was selected based on the needs assessment conducted, adding that Azithromycin is an effective antibiotic against childhood diseases such as pneumonia and miseales, among others.
Rilwanu said that the drug was tested and it was effective in preventing childhood diseases.
He explained that the state had recorded 25 per cent child mortality rate in the past, hence the need for the vaccination.
Rilwan said that the first and second rounds had been given to children using Wamakko as a pilot local government.
” We conducted the first and the second rounds of the use of the drug in this local government and the results were positive, hence the need for this third round.
” When the populace is equipped with the right information, discarding rumors’ and misinformation, they will make the right decision.
” After now, we will shift our focus to the other 22 local governments, ” he stated.
Rilwan urged traditional and religious leaders to educate members of their communities to understand the importance of the intervention for the benefit their people.
In his address, the State Immunization Officer, Mr Garba Bashar, thanked sightsavers for the ‘benevolent gesture.’
Bashar assured continuous government’s support to the NGO’s activities, adding that the organization is delivering meaningful healthcare services to the people.
“ That is an incredible commitment because health is a basic human right. We also see from the outside that Nigeria is inflicted by preventable causes of death, especially infants mortality.
“ Most diseases are preventable, we know that Nigeria is leading the world and we don’t want Nigeria to be known for having all these problems, ” he said.
Bashar enjoined parents having children between age 1 to 11 months to avail them for the immunization.
He added that the drug was free, saying, ” it is safe and available,” and urged the parents to present their eligible children for immunization by the trained health workers conducting the exercise.
The Ward Head of Kalambaina, Alhaji Wadata Ilo, commended the donor agency as well as governments for the house to house campaign and pledged traditional rulers’ sustained support.
