By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Chairman of Balanga Local Government, Ibrahim Jatau Salisu, has commended Rotary International for its support to the Gombe State Government in carried out routine polio and measles vaccinations to protect children against life-threatening diseases in the state.
Salisu made this commendation during an interaction with our reporter in his office after he flagged off the World Polio Vaccination Day activities in Balanga Local Government Area.
He praised Rotary for its exceptional contributions to the polio campaign across the state’s 11 local government areas.
He urged other donor partners to follow Rotary’s example in supporting government initiatives aimed at providing necessary resources to vaccinate children against polio and measles.
Salisu also encouraged parents to bring their children for vaccination, emphasizing that in Balanga, most parents are aware of the importance of vaccinating their children against these deadly diseases.
He further explained that due to some remote areas in Balanga that are difficult to access by vehicle, local recruits and residents are engaged to ensure the vaccination campaign reaches every community.
He added that familiarity with local vaccinators encourages parents to bring their children forward for immunization.
Earlier, the Councilor for Health and Deputy Chairman of Balanga Local Government, Philemon Ezra, noted that primary healthcare (PHC) workers were deployed to all areas to ensure that no child was left out of the vaccination campaign.
Danjuma K. Mauni, the Primary Healthcare Coordinator, provided an overview of the campaign’s data, stating that Balanga Local Government has a total population of 374,707.The local government received 80,050 doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), targeting 75,877 children aged 0-59 months.
Adding that, a total of 66,900 doses of measles vaccines were allocated to the local government, targeting 63,700 children aged 9-59 months.
Several mothers, interviewed after having their children vaccinated, expressed gratitude to the government and Rotary International. They shared that with these vaccines, their children will be protected from deadly diseases.