By Rabiu Omaku
Nasarawa State Government has commended the leadership of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NSPHDA) for the excellent performance of being among the three best States that successfully carry out routine immunisation in the country.
The Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, made the commendation on friday while flagging off the January 2025 outbreak response/polio vaccination campaign in the State.Represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, the Governor also called on parents and carers to present children between 0-5 for the Statewide polio vaccination exercise, which will commence from tomorrow, Saturday, 18th, to Tuesday, 21st January, 2025, emphasising that the vaccine is free and safe.
He lauded the contribution of the development partners, such as WHO, UNICEF, and the Chigari Foundation, for supporting the State in the provision of healthcare services.
Welcoming the participants during the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Damina Ali applauded the State Government for the provision of all the counterpart support for effective implementation healthcare programme in the State.
He equally acknowledged the role of traditional rulers for the success recorded in the previous immunisation exercise, encouraging them to continue.
Dr. Damina also used the occasion to unveil the key initiatives introduced by the ministry to enhance healthcare operation in the State; one of such initiatives, according to him, is the inauguration of the Nasarawa State Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NaEMSAS) that would be providing emergency medical service to women who are having obstructed labour in rural areas.
The permanent secretary also said the restoration of the State Task Force On Immunisation meetings would also improve the success of immunisation campaigns in the State .
Speaking during the flag-off, Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (Rtd), expressed the readiness of the traditional Council in the State to support the Government to achieve the desired results on polio immunisation.
Calling on the parents to accept the vaccine as it is meant to protect their children from poliomyelitis disease.
During a vote of thanks, the executive secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh, appreciated the State Government’s efforts for providing counterpart funding and improving healthcare services delivery in the State, stating that without such backing, the success recorded would not be possible.
Dr. Iskilu equally acknowledged the support and cooperation of development partners and the traditional Council, attributing such support to the outstanding performance of the State in implementing policies that gear towards improving healthcare services in the State.
In their separate remarks, representatives of National Primary healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) all expressed their support to the State efforts in strength the health sector.
