By Editor Daily Fact

Gombe State has officially flagged off the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign in Balanga Local Government Area, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to protecting mothers and children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The flag-off ceremony, held at Swa Central Primary School in Balanga LGA, was organised by the Gombe State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA).

The campaign targets women and children, with a strong focus on routine immunisation services aimed at boosting immunity among vulnerable groups and reducing the burden of preventable diseases across the state.

Speaking at the event on behalf of the Executive Secretary of GSPHCDA, Dr. Musa Mustapha Abdullahi disclosed that over 883,000 beneficiaries, including about 212,000 women and 770,000 children, are expected to be reached across various communities during the exercise.
He assured that the Agency remains committed to ensuring that every eligible mother and child receives complete and quality healthcare services throughout the campaign.

The Chairman of Balanga Local Government Area, Ibrahim Salisu, welcomed the initiative and expressed confidence that it would help eliminate diseases that continue to affect communities, particularly those in hard-to-reach areas. He called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and stakeholders to intensify mobilisation and encourage families, especially in rural communities, to fully participate.

Representing development partners, Pharm. Samuel Bunnet of the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed the continued support of partners in strengthening immunisation performance in Gombe State.

Also speaking, Haruna Gambo Isari of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) stressed that immunisation is a national responsibility, noting that protecting the health of children remains a top priority for the country.

Representing the Commissioner for Health, Idris Muhammad Atiku, a royal representative from Bala Waja of Talasse commended the Gombe State Government for its sustained efforts to improve healthcare delivery. He urged parents and caregivers to cooperate with health workers by presenting their children at designated vaccination points.

The highlight of the programme was the symbolic administration of vaccines to mothers and children. The event was attended by representatives of the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, who was heavily represented by the Chairman, Governing Council of GSPHCDA, Dr. Ahmad Ya’u Kashere.

Dr. Kashere expressed satisfaction with the impressive turnout and called on residents to take advantage of the exercise by ensuring that eligible children receive the vaccines. He emphasised that the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya places high priority on the health and wellbeing of the people. He also appreciated development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, for their continued support.

The Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Muhammad, was also present at the programme and was represented by the Danlawan Kaltungo.

The National Immunisation Plus Days campaign will continue across all wards in Gombe State, with health workers providing both door-to-door and fixed-post services to ensure maximum coverage.

By Our Correspondent

The Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA) has called on journalists and social media influencers to step up public awareness campaigns ahead of the statewide immunisation exercise scheduled for December 12 to 16, 2025.

The Deputy Health Education Officer of the Agency, Raymond Paul George, made the appeal during an orientation meeting with members of the media community in Gombe. He emphasised that the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and ensuring parents understand the importance of routine immunisation.

According to him, integrating routine vaccination into the daily habits of caregivers is essential to protecting children against preventable diseases. He explained that the orientation meeting was organised to brief journalists on the objectives, strategies, and expectations of the upcoming exercise.

Speaking further, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Nuhu Bily, revealed that Gombe State has launched a fresh outbreak response campaign to curb the spread of poliovirus. He disclosed that six cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) were recently recorded in Dukku and Akko Local Government Areas, a development that prompted the government to adopt an intensified three-month immunisation cycle.

Dr. Bily noted that the series of periodic campaigns aim to capture children who may have missed previous rounds of vaccination and to quickly interrupt further transmission of the virus. He urged parents and caregivers to present their children for vaccination during the four-day campaign starting on December 12, stressing that the vaccine is free, safe, and effective.

He further warned that missing immunisation rounds leaves children vulnerable, adding that timely vaccination remains the most reliable method of preventing outbreaks.

Radio Nigeria gathered that more than 1.7 million children were vaccinated across the state last year, demonstrating Gombe’s strong commitment to achieving full immunisation coverage and safeguarding public health.

Health officials reiterate that community support, media engagement, and parental cooperation are key to ensuring the success of the forthcoming campaign.

By Jamilu Abubakar

Gombe State has continued to gain recognition for its strong progress in eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), earning praise from the Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

At a media dialogue held in Gombe, officials said the state’s approach which includes mass treatment, support from partners and government investment has led to significant progress in reducing the diseases.

The North-East Zonal Coordinator for NTDs at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar, said the combined efforts are improving the health of residents and could help Gombe become free of NTDs before 2030.

She explained that ending the diseases would greatly benefit children and boost the state’s economy.

The Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, said Gombe’s financial commitment to NTD programmes is paying off, adding that the state is close to a stage where treatment could stop the diseases from spreading.

“The progress so far is encouraging, but we must continue investing resources wisely to eliminate NTDs and protect children and women,” Rafique said.

Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Musa Abdullahi praised the Federal Government, UNICEF and other partners for their continuous support.

He also confirmed that all local government areas in the state, except Akko and Kwami, have already been declared free of NTDs.

However, experts say more work is needed. They called for increased funding from government at all levels to support NTD activities, instead of depending mostly on donors.

They also stressed the need to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, as well as community education, to prevent a return of the diseases.

They noted that recent federal plans now link NTD activities with national WASH programmes to ensure better long-term results.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest populations and receive inadequate funding and attention.

Common examples include lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiases

. These diseases cause significant suffering and disability, leading to a cycle of poverty, and are targeted for control and elimination