In an effort to reduce child morbidity and mortality rates, an International organization,Sightsavers has plan to reach three point three million children with Azithromycin drugs in Sokoto and Kano states.
The Country Director Dr. Joy Shuaibu stated this at the flagg off of the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin SARMAAN II Project and the Sub- -National Immunization Plus Days campaign in Sokoto.
Dr.Joy Shuaibu said children within 1 – 59 months were being targeted, stressing that the SARMAAN II Project was initiated following the success achieved in SARMAAN I project.
She noted that during SARMAAN I Project, no fewer than one point three million infants within the age bracket of 1, to 9 were administered with drug in 52 local government areas in the six implementing project states of the federation.
The country director explained that In Sokoto, SARMAAN ll Project target nine hundred and fifty six thousand, three hundred and twenty two children and the project would be implemented in the 23 local government areas in the state.
She noted that during the concluded SARMAAN l project, a total of thirty nine thousand eight hundred and eighteen children were targeted out of which forty one thousand one hundred and sixty six have been achieved.
Radio Nigeria in Sokoto reports that the project is using polio immunization platform which is an extended value chain from the National state and local level which could be harness to achieved the desired objectives.
She explained that mortality in children below five years remains a global challenge especially in low and middle income countries and Nigeria is among the major contributor of under five years mortality.
According to her, the project is implemented in collaboration with National Primary Healthcare Development Agency NPHCDA and Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency SSPHCDA.
Others were the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research NIMR, eHealth Africa, Solina Center for International Development and Research SCIDAR and Sokoto state Ministry of Health.
In her address, Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, affirmed the state government commitment for strong partnership with all relevant stakeholders to eradicate polio virus and other infectious diseases posing threat to the lives of people especially young children.
Balarabe called on all stakeholders including ulamas and traditional leaders to redouble effort towards ensuring Zero polio and facilitate success in all forms of vaccination exercise in the state.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Sokoto state Primary Health Care Development Agency SSPHCDA, Dr. Larai Tambuwal, lamented on the high prevalence of unvaccinated children due to non compliance by some parents and insecurity challenges Insecurity and other behavioral challenges affecting the north west.
She said Nigeria was given certificate as Polio Free Country in 2020 but now there are still challenges of another version of the variant virus posing threat to the lives of mainly young childre
In thier separate responses, representatives of development partners including WHO, UNICEF, CDC AFNET and SOLINA commended Gov. Ahmad Aliyu, for releasing the counterpart fund which clearly showed commitment to towards achieving success.
NASIR MALALI
