ADSPHCDA Commences Fresh Routine Immunization, Targets Over 1.3M Children

ADSPHCDA commences fresh routine immunization, targets over 1.3M children

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

The Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) has commenced fresh routine polio vaccine immunization for children from age zero to five years in the state.

Executive chairman of the Agency, ADSPHCDA. Dr. Suleiman Saidu Bashir made the disclosure in Yola Weekend at a media dialogue stressing that the immunization exercise would be for four days from 14th to 17th June, 2025 across the 21 local government areas in the state.

Dr Bashir urge parents and guardians to ensure their wards are presented for the vaccination noting that services including oral polio vaccination, maternal and new born week as well as deworming would be provided which becomes important with the commencement of the rainy season.

Bashir added that,the wisdom behind routine immunization is to ensure children under five have developed strong resistance against the dreaded polio virus and to ensure newly born children are given healthy growth.

He pledged that, the Agency will provide regular media dialogue because of the relevance of the media in countering misinformation, and disinformation,so that, concerns can be addressed while successes could be improved.

Earlier in his remarks, the Director Disease Control and Immunization of the Agency, Dr Jacob Vasumu explained that the immunization targets 1,379,814 children under 0 – 59 months adding that the nOPV vaccine received from national for June 2025 NIPDs stands at 1,599,600 while nOPV vaccine distributed to LGAs to be utilized stand at 1,571,300.

Vasumu said that workable approaches have been adopted to ensure wider coverage for success of the exercise through advocacy,communication and social mobilization to all stakeholders across the state calling on the media to disseminate correct information will diffuse issues around rejection, myths and non-compliance to enhance success of the campaign.

Speaking on the rationale of organizing the dialogue, the director advocacy, communication and social mobilization of ASPHCDA, David Birdling said the major goal is to address challenges besetting the administration of the polio vaccines such as myths, disinformation, misinformation and rejection.

He noted that during the four day campaign, services such as deworming, vital registration, neonatal and maternal child care, as well as vitamin A will be administered to the children.

Also speaking, Prof. Georgina Odaibo, from the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication expressed gratitude to Adamawa State government for its unwavering support to the success of the immunization exercise in the state.

She also thanked the media and other key stakeholders for their unflinching support and faith in the campaign adding that it has added tremendous impetus and successes recorded.

Our Correspondent in Yola reported that, the dialogue was supported by UNICEF in collaboration with ADSPHCDA.