From Umar Dankano, Yola.
Parents and Guardians in Yola South local government area of Adamawa state have expressed satisfaction with the ongoing National Immunization Plus Days conducted by the State Primary Health Care Development Agency ADSPHCDA with support from its partners.
On the spot assessment of the exercise undertaken by some journalists round the council area Monday revealed the rekindled the enthusiasm of the parents and guardians,who couldn’t hide their joy and appreciations for the provision of the health care services to their families especially the children.
Some parents interviewed described the intervention as a “life saving proactive move” noting that the government is being sensitive to the health care and well-being of the populace pledging a
strong cooperation to the healthcare workers, and caregivers with a view to achieving hitch-free immunizations in their communities.
In his submission,a parent and resident of Dendo Community of the Yola South local government area, Mr. Bitrus Kudi said that the immunization exercise is an integral most important essential public health intervention which can be over emphasized and that, only ignorance could lead to its rejection.
Kudin opined that, the presence of the health workers and community mobilizers in company of the media speak volumes of the efficiency and safety of vaccines asserting that children represent the future of society and must be protected to enable them contribute meaningfully in the future.
While commending the state government and its partners, Kudin attributed the massive awareness campaigns on the immunization exercise gave the citizens a change of attitude over the myths and misconception been experiencing in the past.
Another resident, Mr.Bayero Haruna viewed the ongoing exercise as gateway to a healthy growth of the children stressing that the immunization keeps the children free from preventable diseases
Haruna expressed confidence that the children who are exposed to immunization experience fewer cases of childhood illness urging parents and guardians to attach importance to immunization due to its potency and efficacy.
He also commended health workers for their dedication, describing them as committed and diligent in ensuring that every eligible child is reached during the exercise.
In his remarks during the exercise, Joshua Mataboyo, a healthcare giver explained that the current round focuses on the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV), aimed at protecting children against poliomyelitis.
Mataboyo stated that,the exercise commenced on December 9, 2025, as part of national and sub-national efforts to further reduce the circulation of poliovirus in Nigeria and the wider African region stressing that the significance of the exercise cannot be overstated.
“polio remains a public health concern despite years of progress.The nOPV is designed to deplete the number of children vulnerable to poliovirus infection, thereby strengthening population immunity and preventing future outbreaks.
“The vaccination targets eligible children across households and public spaces to ensure no child is missed, and there has been virtually hundred percent acceptance of the vaccines so far due to effective information dissemination and community mobilization”. Mataboyo assured.
Commenting on the little skirmishes experienced,he noted that they have been minimal and largely related to expectations from some parents who participated in earlier campaigns.
He explained that previous immunization rounds, particularly the DOPV exercise, included incentives such as sweets and food items distributed at markets, streets, and water points to encourage participation. Some parents, he said, have been asking whether similar incentives would be extended to house-to-house vaccinations.
Our Correspondent in Yola reported that the campaign, being implemented by the Adamawa State Government with support from UNICEF and other development partners, is receiving widespread acceptance, reflecting growing public trust in routine and supplemental immunization programmes
