By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Hadejia Local Government Area in Jigawa State has vaccinated over 35,000 children against poliomyelitis as the statewide Polio Vaccination Exercise entered its third day.
According to findings by National Update, compliance has significantly improved, with only one case of resistance recorded and already resolved since the campaign began.
Chairman of Hadejia Local Government Council, Hon. Ahmed Abba Ari, expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that more than 420 cases of child absence and non-compliance recorded during the first two days were successfully addressed on Day 3. Speaking after the evening briefing at the Primary Healthcare Development (PHC) office, he credited the council’s provision of logistics and additional support, both in cash and kind, for the exercise’s success.
Hon. Ari reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare in line with Governor Umar Namadi’s 12-Point Agenda, commending the efforts of the Immunisation Mobilisation Committee and other stakeholders for achieving an estimated 75 per cent coverage.
Also speaking, Hadejia PHC Manager, Mr. Salisu Manu Gujungu, stated that the LGA is targeting 50,311 eligible children, with 58,650 doses of the polio vaccine received. He reported that vaccination teams immunised 10,193 children on Day 1, 10,382 on Day 2, and about 11,000 on Day 3, consistently exceeding daily targets.
A total of 58 vaccination teams were deployed across 11 political wards, operating primarily through house-to-house visits. Non-compliance has dropped sharply, and traditional leaders helped resolve the sole resistant case. Of the 420 children initially absent, 360 have now been vaccinated, while the remaining 60, who were away for a ceremony, are scheduled for immunisation on the fourth day.
The local government and health officials assured residents of continued efforts to reach every eligible child and eliminate polio in the area.
