Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Saturday, personally immunised six children with polio vaccine to flag off the October round of National Immunisation Exercise against poliomyelitis in Rano local government area of the state.
The governor equally demonstrated hand washing openly to mark this years United Nations Hand Washing Day during the event.
Governor Ganduje disclosed that the routine exercise was to ensure that 100 percent children equivalent to over 3.2 million are adequately captured to stem the spread of the virus.
He noted that for almost two and half years now, the state has not recorded any new polio case, hence the need for unrelenting campaigns to maintain the status.
Ganduje commended the traditional rulers and other key stakeholders for working hand in hand with health workers towards ensuring that all children are immunised, adding that there are no cases of resistance in recent time in the State.
In his speech, the State Commissioner for health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso said that enough vaccines were provided and qualified staff were engaged in ensuring adequate implementation of the Polio immunisation across the state.
He also inspected the exercise in Bunkure and Dawakin Kudu local government areas shortly after the flag off exercise.
In his remarks, the Emir of Kano represented by the district head of Ajingi, Alh. Wada Aliyu said the emirate council and other stakeholders are much concerned over the permanent effect of disability being caused by the polio virus, therefore directing all traditional leaders to enforce compliance by ensuring that their people present their wards for adequate immunisation against the virus.
Also in her remarks, UNICEF Chief Officer from Katsina Zonal Office, Mrs Padmah Wetty charged parents to inculcate the habit of hygienic protection by embracing the culture of frequent hand washing, pointing out that due to unhygienic lifestyle, millions of people die of diarrhea each year.
On Polio immunisation, Mrs Wetty said she was impressed that the Kano State is really committed towards polio eradication, appreciating the fact that since 2014 no new case was recorded in the state.
