The Zamfara Government has targeted women of childbearing age and children under-five for hepatitis vaccination.
Health Commissioner Aliyu Abubakar made this known in Gusau on Wednesday at the 2022 Bi-annual Healthy Baby Show and Sensitisation on viral Hepatitis ‘B’ prevention.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with State Primary Health Care Board and Health Partners.
Abubakar, represented by the Executive Secretary State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Isma’il Tukur said the hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that is recommended for all infants at birth and for children up to 18 years.
He said that the vaccine confers long-term protection against clinical illness and chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
The commissioner added that the baby show, organised bi-annually is held to present awards to children who have completed doses of the required immunisations and to mothers who adhered to breast feeding.
Gov. Bello Matawalle has and is making efforts to bring healthcare services to the citizens at grassroots level.
“The national policy on health, prescribes the integration of other health services during the conduct of any activity and making it one plan, one budget as a means of reducing wastage.
“The essence of the sensitisation is to protect those that are not infected though vaccination.
“While those infected can be identified so that the disease does not progress into liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma”, he added.
Abubakar said about 19 million cases of hepatitis B infection are recorded in Nigeria, affecting both aged and under-five children.
The commissioner called on parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are immunised and also tasked them to go for screening against hepatitis in order to know their status for quick action.
Earlier, the Sole Administrator of Gusau Local Government, Alhaji Sanusi Sarki represented by his Vice, Alhaji Sirajo Magami, assured the people of the council’s readiness to invest more in the health sector of the state.
NAN also reports that the occasion was attended by representatives of the UNICEF, State Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Center, Federal Medical Center Gusau among others. (NAN)
