Residents of Miri District in Bauchi Local Government Area, Bauchi State, have been commended for their impressive turnout during the 2024 Integrated Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA) for measles and polio vaccinations.
A Ward Focal Person for the Integrated SIA Vaccination Campaign, in one of the villages covered under Bauchi LGA, called Miri, Malam Umar Abdullahi Ningi, highlighted the strong cooperation from caregivers in community with ninety-seven settlements, noting their commitment to protecting their children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Umar Abdullahi Ningi
According to Malam Umar, the target for the seven-day measles vaccination campaign is 7,100 children, with 2,701 already vaccinated in just three days. Additionally, 11,606 children received the Oral Polio Vaccine within this period. He praised the dedication of health workers conducting house-to-house visits to administer the polio vaccine, noting that these workers also serve as mobilizers, encouraging parents to bring their children to health centers for measles vaccinations.
Malam Umar further explained that a team had already been established to reach underserved communities within Bauchi State, aiming to reduce the prevalence of zero-dose children – those who have not received any vaccination.
He advised caregivers to continue making their children available to health facilities for regular vaccinations, even after the campaign, to ensure long-term immunity and protection against life-threatening diseases.
In an interview with the Routine Immunization Officer for Miri Ward, Alhaji Isyaka Yakubu emphasized the critical role of vaccination in saving children’s lives.
He highlighted the importance of the PENTA vaccine, which protects children against five diseases to include tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B.
Isyaka Yakubu, Miri Ward of Bauchi LGA
He explained that while the vaccine can cause mild side effects, these are a sign of the body building immunity, which is essential for health, calling on parents not to misinterprete that .
Alhaji Yakubu also stresses the risk involved in measles, which can lead to blindness, brain damage, and other serious complications, urging parents to vaccinate their children to create a healthier society. He noted that vaccinated children generally enjoy better immunity, stronger cognitive development, and improved learning abilities.
Caregivers with Vaccinated Children at Miri Village
On her part, a Routine Immunization Provider at the Bayan Fada Primary Health Care Center in Bauchi metropolis, Malama Halima Adamu, added that the measles vaccination campaign was timely, as many caregivers are currently seeing measles cases among children.
She commended the community’s strong acceptance of the SIA campaign and the commitment to children’s health.
