Isah Ojo
The United Nations Children’s Fund says about 71.5 per cent of children in Borno State are yet to be fully vaccinated against polio diseases.
The UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Dr Gerida Birukila, disclosed this on Thursday during the launch of the #No More Zero-Dose song as part of activities to commemorate World Polio Day 2024 in Maiduguri.
According to Birukila, Borno State has recorded only 28.5 per cent of fully vaccinated children with basic antigens.
“While Borno State recorded 28.5 per cent of fully vaccinated children with basic antigens, 21.2 per cent of children have reported to have no vaccination according to NDHS 2023 data. We need at least 85 per cent of children to be vaccinated, but now we have just around 28 per cent who are fully immunised in Borno State,” she said.
The UNICEF representative listed the zero-dose local government areas in Borno to include MMC, Mafa, Konduga, Jere, Gubio, Monguno, Ngala and Damboa.
Furthermore, to promote the campaign for compulsory vaccination, she said, “UNICEF today launched a song titled “No More Zero-Dose” featuring Ali Nuhu, Kate Henshaw, Timi Dakolo, Wake, Cobhams, Spyro, Omawumi, Qing Madi, Master Soumy, and others, which highlights the need to protect our children and preserve their future against polio, measles, tetanus and other life-threatening infections.
“With a version of the song in Hausa, voiced by respected thespian, Ali Nuhu, we believe the song will boost vaccination rates in the Northeast region and become a popular anthem,” she noted
Birukila also mentioned that UNICEF has been providing advocacy support to the government for increased funding for health and immunisation activities.
“We have worked with the government and partners for targeted Zero-Dose intervention, which is ongoing across prioritised local government.
“We have facilitated community engagement with both traditional and religious institutions and ensured availability of vaccines across all 27 local government areas of the state with no stockout recorded at the LGA level for all vaccines,” she emphasised.
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