Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that young Children that were not vaccinated are always at highest risk of being infected with measles and it’s complications.
According to him, measles as one of the vaccine was preventable but highly transmissible viral infection, affects mostly children under five years of age and remained an important cause of death among young children globally.
Ganduje made the assertion, Friday, while flagging off of 2019 measles vaccination campaign in Kano held at Gwagwarwa Primary Health Care, Nasarawa Local Government Area.
Ganduje who was represented by his Deputy Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said despite concerted effort and commitment made by his administration to fight against measles, significant number of children get infected with the disease.
“It is in light with persistent desire to address the menace of child killer disease across the State, Governor Ganduje reiterated that his administration would double efforts in reducing maternal and child mortality through the establishment of additional centres of excellent in healthcare delivery.
“You will bear me witness that this administration has recorded monumental successes in polio eradication and routine immunization as well as primary healthcare services in the State. It is suffice to mention that Kano is 63 months without case of wild polio virus.
“However, it is pertinent to state that with resolve of this administration, Kano State Government is fully committed to providing quality, accessible and affordable healthcare services to the good people of the State,” he assured.
According to him, all efforts made by the state to improve healthcare delivery had been confirmed and became obvious especially at the primary and secondary healthcare levels.
“As we commence this measles vaccination campaign, It is my fervent hope that we will attain a 100% coverage with resounding success and quality outcomes that will lead us toward the total elimination of this disease,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary Kano state Ministry of Health Alhaji Usman Bala explained that the measles vaccination campaign had been scheduled to be carried out in a staggered manner across the 484 political wards and 44 local government areas of the state, slated between October 31 and November 12, 2019.
He said Kano state, so far received over 2.9 million doses of measles vaccine from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCD) and achieved sustainable progress in training of personnel, provision of logistics and support from the development partners.”
In their separate remarks, the representatives of the Emirs of Kano, Bichi, Karaye, Rano and Gaya assured of their contiued commitments and cooperation towards actualising the general success of the programme at all times.
During the flag-off programme, representatives of development partners on healthcare presented goodwill messages on behalf of their respective organisations.
