The Bauchi State Government has officially flagged off the malaria vaccination campaign, marking the first time the vaccine is being introduced in the state as part of efforts to reduce child mortality and combat malaria.
Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Muhammad Dambam, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Dauda Mahmoud Yakubu, called on residents to come out en mass and ensure their children receive the vaccine.
He emphasized that access to the malaria vaccine is a right for every child, and reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving healthcare services for women and children, particularly in ensuring safe delivery for mothers and complete immunization for children so they can achieve their full potential in life.
In her remarks, the Chief of Field Office of UNICEF Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, commended the initiative and reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting programmes that improve the wellbeing of children and mothers in Bauchi State.
Dr. Rafique revealed that UNICEF has provided 350 doses of the malaria vaccine along with the necessary logistics to support the implementation of the campaign.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad, represented by the Director of Disease Control and Immunization and Project Coordinator of the IMPACT Project, Dr. Adamu Muhammad, assured the public that the vaccine has been certified safe by the World Health Organization (WHO) and will be administered free of charge.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Executive Chairman Bauchi Local Government, Alhaji Mahmoud Baba Ma’aji, represented by the Head of Administration, Hajiya Amina Baba Dan Lawan, described the introduction of the malaria vaccine as another milestone in the fight against malaria in the state.
He noted that the Bauchi State Government has continued to implement several human development projects aimed at improving the wellbeing of citizens, adding that the malaria vaccination programme would significantly reduce child mortality.
In his goodwill message, the State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Alhaji Madugu Sulaiman, described the introduction of the malaria vaccine as a critical step toward eliminating malaria in Nigeria. He commended the Bauchi State Government for making the programme a reality.
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