By Maikudi Muhammad Marafa
Kano state government has completed all necessary plan for the conduct of Fractional-dose of inactivated Polio Vaccine(FIPV) and the noval Oral Polio vaccine (nOPV2) campaign aimed at improving the immune status of the children to interrupt the transmission of the Mutant polio virus type II (cMPV2) in some part of the country.
In a press briefing conducted by the Kano State Commissioner of health Dr, Abubakar Labarin Yusuf highlighted that, after 3 years without a single case of the wild polio virus, Nigeria, and 9 years in Kano State, Nigeria was certified polio –freeon the 25th of August, 2020. In an attempt to maintain the polio free status, Kano State and indeed the country in line with the Polio End game strategy have intensified and strengthen active surveillance and routine immunization to vaccinate all eligible children in the state and the country in general.
Dr. Labaran Further stated that, the Federal Government confirmed an outbreak of Circulating mutant polio virus type2 (cMPV2) in 2018 in the country and by January 2022, more than 390 cases were recorded from 28 states of the federation including Kano state.
According to him, the rising number of cases of the cMPV2 in the country necessitated the conduct of many rounds of well-structured outbreak-response (OBR) campaigns in, 2021 and 2022 respectively in line with the directives of Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and National Primary healthcare development Agency (NPHCDA) to interrupt the transmission of the circulating mutant virus in the country. These campaigns have greatly contributed in the control and interruption of transmission of the Circulating mutant polio virus type2 (cMPV2) in the country evidenced by the significant progress made in controlling the cMPV2 in the country as shown by more than 70% decline in the number of cases. Kano has not recorded new case since February 2022. Despite the huge success in controlling the cMPV2 in the country, some states are still reporting cases. From January 2023 to date, more than 30 cases were recorded mainly from North western part of the country.
The Commissioner further explained that, In an attempt to boost the immune status of the population and to completely stop the shedding and transmission of the cMPV2 in the country, the 39th Polio Expert Review Committee (ERC) and the National Polio Emergency Operation Center have aligned with the use of fractional dose of inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV) and novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) to massively build population immunity in 13 high risk states in 3 phases. Phase I, was conducted in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina state, Phase II will be conducted in Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger and FCT while phase III in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe state. The phase II will be implemented from 22nd July to 4th August, 2023.
Kano Model:
The campaign in Kano state as stated by the Commissioner will be conducted in 2 phases considering the number of LGAs and the massive logistics required. Phase 1 is scheduled to take place between 22nd – 28th July, 2023 in 20 LGAs while Phase 2 will take place from31st July – 7th August, 2023 in the remaining 24 LGAs. Already, pre-implementation activities such as planning meetings, advocacies, community engagement and training of the services providers have since commenced. The campaign will be conducted using 3,200 teams of 15 members each making a total of about 48,000 adhoc personnel. During the exercise 3,259,339 children under 5 years of age are expected to be immunized. More than 100,000 cartons (about 4,000,000 million pieces) of Indomie Noodles will be distributed to the eligible children of the state as pluses by the government. It is estimated that, more than one Billion Naira (cost of the vaccines, pluses, personnel stipends, supervision, social mobilization, waste management and other logistics) will be spent during the campaign, adding that,
.Arrangements are in top gear for the official flag off of this important campaign on Sunday 22nd July, 2023 at Gabasawa Town of Gabasawa LGA by his Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf. I therefore, call on all parents and care givers to utilize this golden opportunity given to them by the government as these interventions are safe, effective and free.
Our blueprint in the health sector aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Kano State through establishment of a befitting general hospital in all the 44 LGAs of the state, and provision of at least one functional PHC in all the 484 political wards among many other innovations. I also want to appreciate the contribution of the traditional and religious leaders especially in the fight against poliomyelitis, COVID-19, and other diseases of public health importance. Special appreciation goes to the health system management teams and the healthcare workers for their tireless effort.
Dr. Abubakar labaran Yusuf further explained that, Within a short period of his administration Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf , has repositioned the healthcare system of the state, this is evidenced by the recent recovery, repairs, and reactivation of Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital. Our blueprint in the health sector according the Commissioner was aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Kano State through establishment of a befitting general hospital in all the 44 LGAs of the state, and provision of at least one functional PHC in all the 484 political wards among many other innovations. I also want to appreciate the contribution of the traditional and religious leaders especially in the fight against poliomyelitis, COVID-19, and other diseases of public health importance. Special appreciation goes to the health system management teams and the healthcare workers for their tireless effort.
