Parents in Gombe State are flocking to vaccination centres to protect their children against measles-rubella and human papillomavirus (HPV).
The vaccination drive, launched by the Gombe State government in collaboration with development partners including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) aims to immunise children aged 0-59 months against measles-rubella and 9-14 years girls against HPV.
Our correspondent who monitored the vaccination exercise at different centres in the state capital on Wednesday, reports that the response from parents has been overwhelming, with many eager to safeguard their children against those killer diseases.
According to UNICEF, the vaccination campaign is part of a broader efforts to save children and ensure their survival.
In an interview, the immunisation officers expressed satisfaction on the turnout by parents to bring their children for vaccination.
At the township primary health centre popularly called ‘Gidan Magani’, Safiya Mohammed Bornoma, the routine immunisation officer of the facility, revealed that the exercise commenced last Saturday adding that not less than 70 children are being vaccinated every day.
Rabiu Inuwa, the focal person for the vaccination in Jeka da Fari ward, said they brought the exercise to schools in order to enable the community members and school girls to receive the vaccines.
He said 6,589 children were vaccinated against measles-rubella on the day more than their target.
While in Bolari community, Maryam Mohammed Adam, the supervisor of the vaccination, said not fewer than 260 parents brought their kids on daily basis to receive the vaccines.
They opined that the parents’ cooperation would help prevent unnecessary children’s deaths from preventable diseases.
