by Nurat Uthman
Three years after Yobe State was declared free from Poliomyelitis, the state has again recorded four new cases across three local government areas of Bursari, Machina and Yusufari.
The Executive Secretary, Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Babagana Kundi-Machina disclosed this at Dole Machina community while flagging off this year’s polio vaccination.
Dole Machina, a community located five kilometres away from the Niger Republic border had recently recorded two out of the four cases of the disease in the state.
“It’s unfortunate that after three years of being certified polio free, we have recorded a circulating poliovirus outbreak in 3 local government areas of Bursari, Machina and Yusufari and as a government together with our partners, we have embarked on state-wide outbreak response”
“The vaccination exercise will be conducted not only in the affected areas but as well the entire 17 local government areas of the state. We have just flag-off the campaign at Dole Machina the epicentre where 2 cases were recorded” he said.
The State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Hamisu Alhassan who spoke on behalf of the partners, pledged to support the Yobe state government in the prevention and curtailing of the disease outbreak.
He also urged the communities to give priority to personal and environmental hygiene to reciprocate the efforts of the government and the partners.
The Emir of Machina, Alhaji Bashir Albishir-Machinama who accompanied the delegation to the community charged them not to be hesitant in accepting the vaccination as done in the past.
He thanked the government for the prompt response and pledged to sensitize his wards to ensure the disease outbreak in the area is averted.
