Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Borno State Government with support of World Health Organisation (WHO) is to immunize 436, 190 residents against cholera in six councils. The targeted councils include Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Jere, Askira/Uba, Chibok, Ngala and Kala/Balge; and had been affected by insurgency in last six years. Flagging of cholera immunization exercise on Friday in Maiduguri, the Cluster Consultant to WHO, Abba Kolo disclosed that the five-day immunization exercise in the state; is for people at the age of one and above. He said the immunization programme was initiated and supported by the global health agency and other partners to fight cholera that claimed 61 lives last year. “Cholera is a disease that is contagious among the targeted age bracket of one and above, excluding pregnant women that should not to immunize against cholera,” he warned, adding that the exercise is from house to house and all schools. On what prompted immunization, he said: “What brought this immunization campaign; was the recent outbreaks of cholera epidemic in the targeted communities in Borno state. “The Epidemiological data also indicated that the targeted communities be covered with the five-day immunization exercise.” The Director of Disease Control for State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHDA), Babagana Abiso said that the first vaccination exercise protects people from contracting cholera for six months. According to him, the second round of immunization also protects people against cholera for the next three years. He however noted that not every community could be reached, because of security challenges in Abadam, Kala/Balge and Marte. He therefore; urged the other partners to continue support the immunization exercise to save people’s lives.
