- Gov Direct Closure of Schools
- Targets12, 250 Children For Vaccination.
- From Stanley Mijah, Yola
Barely few days after the closure of schools in the wake of the outbreak of Measles across the twenty-one local governments of of Adamawa State to stem the tide and spread of the disease, the state government in a swift response has so far covered no fewer than sixty eight settlements with a total number of eight thousand, one hundred and forty-one children vaccinated against the disease.
Though a total number of 12, 250 are targeted for the Reactive vaccination exercise, the state government has expressed optimism that the number of targeted children will be realized before the expiration of the stipulated period of the exercise.
Investigations by pioneer revealed that out of the 818 number of reported cases across the local governments since January, this year, 143 of the cases have been confirmed with mostly unvaccinated children between the ages of 1-14years effected including 49 deaths.
Our correspondent gathered that some private schools in the state have shut down their schools against Day Students in compliance to the directive to closedown schools for the vaccination exercise but have retained Boarding Students to minimize risks.
Confirming the outbreak and the interventions of the State government during a Media engagement session with Journalists organized by the World Health Organization in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital, the State Epidemiologist of the Epidemiology Department of the State’s Ministry of Health, Kadabiyu G. Jones said that the Commissioners have been mandated by the governor to meet with their respective community leaders and Representatives to ensure effective mobilization and success of the Reactive vaccination exercise.
According to him, most of the children caught up in the wave of the outbreak are from the unvaccinated population and called on parents and community leaders to step up efforts by ensuring that their wards are vaccinated against killer diseases.
Also speaking at the event, the World Health Organization’s Bay State’s Communicator, Kingsley Igwebuike said that the organization of the Media event was precipitated by the desire to strengthen collaboration between journalists and public Health Experts and to minimize the risks of Communication during reporting of health related issues.
Other objectives of the event advanced by Kingsley include, increased health information, role of WHO during emergency responses and providing answers to complex public health questions.
Earlier, the WHO state Coordinator, Dr. Ahemen Terseer had appealed to Journalists in the state to report to save lives and to seek clarifications before publication where necessary “to preserve life instead of destroying it “
PIONEER NEWS 