25 cases of variant polio virus recorded in 9 LGs of Kebbi

From Samaila Bayo, Birnin Kebbi 

Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency on Wednesday said it has recorded 25 cases of variant polio virus in nine local government areas of the state.

The PHCDA health educator, Yusuf Umar Sawwa while briefing journalists during a meeting with Unicef, WHO and other development partners said there is an ongoing plan on how to mobilize the community and engaged them on how to boost immunity of the under 5 children against the virus.

He said the nine local government areas affected include, Argungu, Danko wasagu, Zuru, Fakai, Gwandu, Augie, Bagudo and Aliero.

He added that the state is worried about the spread of the virus and is mapping out strategies with other partners and royal fathers, community leaders, hamlet and village heads on social mobilization to stop the virus from spreading to other local government areas of the state.

"We plan to flag off vaccination of children in the 21 local government areas of the state from March. The nine affected local governments would be given attention first", he said.

Sawwa said they have been having problem in vaccinating the children in some areas of the state because the husbands are not always available and their consent must be given before the children are vaccinated. "With the support of our royal fathers and community engagement we hope to overcome the obstacle", he said.