By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Though it had concluded arrangements to commence the 2024 Integrated Immunization Campaign for measles today, Saturday, 26th October, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board has announced postponement of the exercise.
The development was necessitated by the fact that some States of the Federation have not been able to mobilize for the exercise which is a national one thereby forcing the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency to direct for a little adjustment.
The disclosure was made by the Director, Disease Control of the Board, Dr. Adamu Mohammed while interacting with Journalists on Friday on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed.
Adamu Mohammed said that though Bauchi State Government is fully prepared for the commencement of the campaign, but directives from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has halted the commencement to next week.
He said that the decision of the NPHCDA to half was as result of some State’s inability to pay the counterpart funds required for the implementation of the campaign.
The Director then informed the Journalists that BSPHCDB will use the one week time to continue with it’s community mobilization drive for uptake of immunization.
Adamu Mohammed seized the opportunity to call on parents and care givers to ensure that all their eligible children U-5 were given the vaccines, emphasizing that , it is the only sure way of preventing their children from all vaccines preventable diseases.
The Director also commended the Journalists for the cooperation and support of the activities of the Board describing them as partners in progress just as he encouraged them to continue to support the Board.
He then announced that all things being equal, the campaign will commence on Saturday, 2nd of November, 2024 and last for one week across the state.