The Gombe government has urged residents to support campaign to end child killer diseases in the state.

Nuhu Bile, state epidemiologist, Gombe State Ministry of Health, said this at a media interactive session on Tuesday in Gombe.

The meeting was part of activities to signal the commencement of the 2025 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).

He said it was imperative for residents to continue to embrace efforts by the state government and development partners towards improving the health of mothers and children.

Mr Bile said it was important for the residents to know that vaccines being administered to their children were safe and good for their health.

“The state government is embarking on another round of outbreak response and because there is an increasing number of cases of circulating vaccine-derived polio to immunise children.

“The beautiful thing is that the oral polio vaccine, you can’t really say you have given an overdose to children, as it can be repeated every three months.

“This is to ensure immunisation of children and to capture those who missed the previous circle of the exercise.

“For us to do this, we feel that the most important aspect of immunisation is when the people agree that this is beneficial to them and understand that this thing is not injurious to them,” he said.

Mr Bile said the ministry sought to improve community engagement with the community through effective synergy with the media, create awareness and educate the people to know the basis v of the vaccine, and understand that it’s free.

While commending the residents over the large turnout in the measles Rubella vaccination, Mr Bile said the exercise recorded 98 per cent coverage.

Muhammad Bawa, state nutrition officer, said the MNCH exercise would be unveiled on Friday in Balanga LGA of the state.

Mr Bawa said the initiative aimed at providing an integrated health package, such as vaccination, antenatal care, among others, to strengthen routine primary healthcare services.

He said the exercise was designed to significantly increase the coverage levels of key preventive and curative interventions, thereby improving the health of mothers and children.

Also, Raymond George, deputy state health education officer, said the meeting aimed at updating media practitioners and social media influencers on the State Immunisation Plus Days.

Mr George urged the media to disseminate the message and set agenda on immunisation towards improving vaccine coverage and acceptance in the state.

30 journalists and social media influencers attended the meeting.

(NAN)