By Mustapha Usman, Kano
Officials of Tarauni Local Government Council in Kano state have called on the state government to facilitate provision of Cold Store in the area, following a delay in the commencement of the ongoing Routine Immunization, RI, against polio-virus in the state.
The council’s Head of Primary Health Care Department, Nuhu Rimingado, said on Monday that in an ideal situation, the council was supposed to have its own cold store where frozen ice packs that guarantee potency of the polio vaccine is kept, three to four days before the commencement of RI implementation.
He decried that they always transport the ice pack from Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Hospital to the council for onward distribution to 10 wards and over 200 settlements of the LGAs on daily basis.
Mr Rimigado noted that though they always meet up with the distribution of the ice packs to the respective destinations, early take off of the exercise is very important to ensure timely completion of the vaccinators’ daily target before sunset.
The HOD also disclosed that though the council recorded a number of noncompliance by some defiant residents, citing too much rounds at Hotoro, Ungwua Uku Cikin Gari and Ungwua Guanu, 85% of those cases had been addressed as at third day of the ongoing exercise through the concerted efforts of traditional and religious leaders, among other key stakeholders in the area.
Meanwhile, the routine immunization also received a boost in Kano Municipal LGA as the council surpassed its target population of 78,198 across the thirteen wards as disclosed by its HOD Primary Health Care, Alkasim Rimingado.
He said “some areas including Gandun Alubasa, Sharada and Tudun Wizirci where cases of rejection of the polio vaccine are rampant, recorded huge turn out during this month of July round due to massive sensitization campaign embarked upon by concerned authorities prior to the commencement of the exercise.”
He commended the state government for being consistent with payment of its counterpart fund to complement other partners’ interventions, calling on parents to take the immunization exercise serious so as to sustain the zero case status till the country would be formally certified polio free in the next few years.
