February 05, (THEWILL) – Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir, has ordered government officials on polio eradication to report any case of non-compliance encountered during immunisation exercises.
The deputy governor gave the directive on Wednesday, while addressing a United Nations Representatives’ meeting with Local Government Chairmen, religious leaders, and traditional rulers, at the Command Guest Inn, Sokoto.
Gobir said the state is committed to eradicating the polio virus in the state.
He noted that the state has created a Standing Committee and several sub-committees at local and ward levels dedicated to tackling resistance to polio immunisation.
According to him, “Our government possesses the necessary personnel, resources, and capacity to eliminate the virus.
“Despite sustained vaccination campaigns, the presence of polio in Sokoto remains a source of concern”, he added.
The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, identified two major challenges that includes, “Non-compliance by some parents and inaccurate data collection during immunisation exercises.”
The Commissioner assured stakeholders that necessary measures were being implemented to address these issues.
The UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Mrs Christian Munduate, also raised concerns about Sokoto North and South having the highest number of polio cases.
She warned that fake fingerprint markings—where some parents and vaccinators falsely claim children have been immunised—were a major obstacle in the fight against the disease.
Mrs Munduate called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, traditional leaders, and international partners to curb these challenges.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
