Nine LGAs Prone To Polio Variants In Kebbi–UNICEF

From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi

Twenty Five polio variant cases have been discovered in nine Local Government Areas of Kebbi State. Alhaji Yusuf Umar Sauwa, the Health Eductor, Kebbi State primary Healthcare Development Agency has said. 

Sauwa who stated this at a one day stakeholder meeting with traditional title holders and media practitioners at the Polio Emergency Center in Birnin-Kebbi, Wednesday made this known.

He presented the polio variant cases discovered in the nine Local Government Areas of the State before Stakeholders and other donor agencies operating in the state.

 According to him, methodology and ways are being adopted to tackle the affected areas, noting that they are trying to see how best they can stop the transmission of the disease and improve the immune system of children across the State.

He noted further that the essence of the meeting was to intimate Social Mobilisation Officers in the state on the need to come up with methodologies towards adequate information that would be communicated to the grassroots so that community would be engaged.

This according to him would allow  communities to participate fully and enable them achieve the objectives set out in this regards, adding that the State Primary Health Care Center in collaboration with UNICEF, are trying to see how children under be vaccinated  to boost their immunity to fill the gap in those children that are circulating polio variant.

“This discovered variant is a challenge to Kebbi State we are trying to see how best we can stop the transmission of the disease among other children”.

The State health Educator listed the affected Local Government Areas to include, Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Augie, Suru.Others are Bagudo, Gwandu, Aliero, Fakai and Danko Wasagu.

Donor Agencies present at the meeting are, Medicaid, WHO, UNICEF, CHIGARI Foundation incentives, as well as religious leaders from both Islam, Christianity, Media men and traditional rulers.