From Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency BASPHCDA has recorded 38 confirmed cases of circulating Mutant Polio Virus Type 2 (Cmpv2) in 12 out of the 20 local Government Areas of the State.
The Executive Chairman of BASPHCDA, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed stated this in Bsuchi over the weekend when he flagged off vaccination against the virus held at the PHC, Bayan Fada in Bauchi metropolis.
He said the affected LGAs to including Toro, Warji, Darazo, Misau, Dambam, Zaki, Jamaare, Alkaleri, Ganjuwa, Bauchi, Katagum and Shira.
Chairman said the target population is under 5 years with a total of 2,286,057 while the total vaccines (nopv2) so far received is 2,367,450.
Rilwanu said that the total number of wards in the state is 323 while the total number of settlements is 17,243 7 and a Total number of 4023 House-House teams are to be engaged for the exercise as well as a total number of special teams1280 9 and a total number of Fixed teams 646
He said , the level of preparedness of the exercise by the Agency is 100% having received support from all relevant international donor agencies having received feedback to STFI/ICC of the outcome of September 2021 round which was conducted.
Also conducted was the State level training of State Technical Facilitators (STFs); Advocacy visits to Political, Religious and Traditional leadership and Ward level training of house-to-house teams.
The Chairman said that there are 5 special teams for LGAS, TFI & Social Mobilization Committee meeting was conducted at various LGAS to review the last round, examine successes, challenges and provide action points.
Rilwanu said that Inter/intra-state Border synchronization meetings between Bauchi-Jigawa-Kano, Yobe-Bauchi-Gombe-Bauchi were conducted.
The assessment of the level of LGA status preparedness using a pre-implementation checklist was also conducted just as Vaccines were distributed to LGAS.
He then stressed that Logistics have been paid by WHO and UNICEF for the implementation of DOPV strategy in all High-risk LGAs in the state.
Rilwanu said “The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) assured that there is a need to focus attention on the fight against the resurgence of the Poliovirus particularly in the North in order to be able to curtail it before it becomes epidemic.,All other international donors and support agencies assured of a collaborative effort to quickly stop the virus from spreading.”
This shows the resurgence of the Wild Poliovirus in the country after years of Polio-free satisfaction,
