No fewer than 2.2 million children have received vaccines against measles, rubella, poliomyelitis, and other preventable diseases in the ongoing integrated vaccination campaign in Sokoto.

The Sokoto government has intensified its outreach efforts by conducting awareness campaigns in churches, mosques, schools, markets, and other public spaces to ensure maximum coverage.

The state’s commissioner for health, Faruku Wurno, made the disclosure on Tuesday during a review meeting.

He urged parents and guardians to ensure their children and wards were vaccinated, stressing that those vaccines were essential to protect them from life-threatening but preventable diseases.

Mr Wurno said the campaign was part of a broader national initiative to improve vaccination coverage and promote community ownership of public health programmes.

He noted that the state government had taken robust steps to mobilise citizens and raise awareness.

He also commended the management of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital for their cooperation in resolving concerns raised by some staff during the campaign.

Additionally, he thanked other key stakeholders, including the commissioners for basic and secondary education, local government and chieftaincy affairs, and the Sultanate council, for helping address public misunderstandings around the vaccination exercise.

Speaking on the campaign’s progress, Hamza Yusuf, the campaign incident manager, reported that the exercise had achieved approximately 65 per cent coverage so far.

He added that non-compliance cases were minimal and being addressed.

Mr Yusuf identified hard-to-reach and security-challenged areas such as Tureta, Sabon Birni, and Isa as priority zones for intensified efforts.

He also noted Wamakko, Sokoto North, and Sokoto South as having the highest rates of non-compliance.

“We are deploying appropriate strategies to reach remote communities and working closely with stakeholders to overcome resistance,” Mr Yusuf said, while praising partners for their ongoing support and encouragement.

Mr Wurno reiterated the state government’s commitment to safeguarding every child’s health, calling on parents, caregivers, and community leaders to support the campaign and ensure no eligible child is left unvaccinated.

A committee has been formed following interactions with UDUTH management, led by chief medical director Anas Sabir, to improve mobilisation within the hospital community.

However, there have been isolated incidents of disruption. At Rumbukawa Primary School in Sokoto North LGA, a team of vaccinators was attacked by thugs, resulting in injuries and hospitalisation of victims.

In another incident, a girl fell ill after receiving the vaccine at Sultan Maccido School and is currently receiving treatment at Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital.

A medical team has been deployed to assess the situation.

The commissioner directed immediate action on both incidents and assured vaccination teams of their safety, saying security measures had been strengthened across all levels of the campaign.

(NAN)