Media dialogue: Adamawa PHCDA boss lauds partners, calls for stronger public awareness on immunization

By Joseph Adahnu, Yola

The Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (ADSPHCDA), Dr. Suleiman Saidu Bashir, has lauded the agency’s partners, including UNICEF and the media, for the great role in creating awareness on public health issues.

Dr. Bashir stated this during a media dialogue with journalists, social media youth influencers, and partners on the National Immunization Plus Days in Yola.

The Chairman noted that though Nigeria is been certified polio-free, emerging concerns still exist, which make continuous campaigns necessary to strengthen the government’s defense against the disease through routine immunization.

The Primary Health care boss urged the media not to relent but to continue in supporting the agency in sensitizing the public especially parents on the importance of vaccinating children aged 51 months and below. That special vaccination teams are positioned across communities to ensure full coverage.

He reiterated that Adamawa State Government has committed significant resources to improving child nutrition, by releasing N450 million this year as counterpart funding to access additional support.

Explaining further that, the primary healthcare Chairman said, facilities have been equipped with new structures, and the agency is working to install solar power systems across all facilities, also that delivery kits are being distributed to assist pregnant women in the state.

According to the chairman, plans have been completed to establish newborn resuscitation units in all 21 local government areas, to ensure timely intervention when complications arise after delivery.

Director of Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. James Vasmu, thanked the media for their continued support and urged them to sustain their efforts in helping immunization activities reach all corners of the state.

Other bodies also spoke on more sensitization to back and crannies of the state so that premature death in both pregnant Mothers and children be minimized to the lowest level.