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 Editor Daily Fact

In a renewed effort to strengthen child health and routine immunisation across Gombe State, the wife of the Governor, Hajiya Asma’u Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called on parents to ensure their children receive all necessary vaccines for a healthier future.

The event, held at the Town Maternity, Gidan Magani, brought together hundreds of mothers with their children, health workers, traditional and religious leaders, and development partners — all united by one mission: to protect every child from preventable diseases.

Delivering an emotional and inspiring address, Hajiya Asma’u described the occasion as “a joyful day where government and people stand as one family united by love for children.”
She emphasised that immunisation is not merely a medical duty but “an act of love, protection, and faith.”

“When we immunise our children,” she said, “we are telling them — I love you, and I am protecting your future.”

The Governor’s wife urged mothers to disregard rumours and misinformation about vaccines, assuring them that all vaccines provided at health centres are safe, free, and have been used globally to prevent deadly diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus.

She also called on fathers, traditional rulers, and community leaders to support women in ensuring every child is vaccinated, stressing that immunisation is a collective responsibility.

“Every child we immunise is a child we save. Every mother who learns is a mother who leads. And every community that embraces health becomes a community of strength,” she added.

Mama Ambassadors Initiative Launched

As part of the campaign, Hajiya Asma’u inaugurated the Mama Ambassadors — a group comprising the wives of Local Government Chairmen who will serve as advocates for routine immunisation in their various communities.

These ambassadors will embark on community outreach, going house-to-house to encourage mothers to attend antenatal clinics, take their children for vaccination, and regularly visit health centres.

The Governor’s wife paid special tribute to frontline health workers, describing them as “the true heroes of our communities.” She commended their dedication to safeguarding the lives of mothers and children across Gombe State.

Stakeholders Reaffirm Commitment

Earlier in his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, urged parents to ensure their children are fully immunised, reminding them that all vaccines are free, safe, and effective.

Also speaking, Asmau Muhammad Iganus, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, appealed to parents, especially mothers, to take advantage of the ongoing immunisation services available in health facilities across the state.

A representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Fa’iza Galadanci, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, commended the Gombe State Government for its sustained investment in quality healthcare delivery.

In his remarks, Malam Abdulkarim Muhammad Aliyu, the State Immunisation Officer, encouraged parents to strictly follow the immunisation schedule to ensure full protection for their children.

Representing the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA), Dr. Maryam Abubakar, the Director of Community and Family Health, appreciated development partners including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Gavi for their continuous support in improving child health services.

The Chairman, Governing Council of the GSPHCDA, Dr. Ahmad Ya’u Kashere, reaffirmed Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to healthcare, revealing that over 400 health facilities across the 11 local government areas and 114 wards have been renovated, while additional health workers were recruited to strengthen service delivery.

Partners and Leaders Unite for a Healthier Gombe

Health partners, religious leaders, and community representatives at the event pledged to continue supporting the state government in its quest to ensure no child in Gombe is left unprotected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The event ended with renewed enthusiasm among mothers and health officials as the state intensified efforts to make Gombe a model for child immunisation and primary healthcare in Nigeria.