Bauchi first Lady calls for collective support towards Successful implemention of malaria vaccine campaign programme

The first Lady Bauchi State Dr Aisha Bala Mohammed has charged Parents and traditional leaders in the State to accord maximum support towards the successful implementation of the newly introduced malaria vaccine in their respective communities.

Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, made the appeal while flagging off the malaria vaccination exercise for children under the age of five at the Primary Health Care center Kofar Ran, Bauchi.

Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Asma’u Auwal Jatau, the first lady called on parents, particularly nursing mothers, to ensure that their children receive the newly introduced malaria vaccine.

Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed explained that the state government had paid its counterpart funding to procure adequate doses of the vaccine to be administered to children under five years of age, with the aim of curbing the spread of malaria and reducing mortality and morbidity among young children and pregnant women.

She also commended development partners for their technical and financial support, noting that the present administration in the state has taken proactive measures by training health workers and carrying out community mobilization to ensure the smooth implementation of the vaccination programme.
In his keynote address, the Commissioner of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, attributed the increasing number of deaths among pregnant women and children under five years to malaria, describing the disease as a major public health challenge.

In their goodwill messages, development partners including UNICEF, World Health Organization, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency called on traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state to support the successful implementation of the immunization programme.
They noted that the introduction of the malaria vaccine came at a crucial time, considering the devastating effects of malaria on young children and pregnant women, adding that the vaccine would help reduce the burden of the disease.

The partners also urged residents to maintain clean environments to prevent mosquito breeding and to continue using insecticide-treated nets as part of efforts to eradicate malaria in their communities.

In an opening remark, the Chairman Bauchi Local Government council, Alhaji Mahmoud Babama’aji, represented by Amina Baba Dan Lawal, described the initiative as timely, noting that it would significantly improve the health status of children in the area