From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Zamfara state government was the first in the country to establish an infectious diseases hospital following the outback of COVID 19 Pandemic.
This was revealed by the state’s commissioner of health, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar MC during a one day media engagement and sensitization on routine immunization and Primary Health Care services organised by Zamfara state Primary Health Care Board.
The commissioner who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Aliyu Maikiyo Maradun said, the center was established in Damba in order to effectively control the COVID 19 Pandemic and other infectious diseases.
Maradun also said, the state has constructed additional 147 Primary Health Care Centers across the 147 wards in the state aimed at fighting the COVID 19 pandemic.
He stressed that, the administration of Governor Bello Mattawale has done a lot in terms of health care delivery in the state.
According to him, the Governor has paid all the counter funds to development partners in the area of health in the state.
He explained that the Governor has purchased and distributed more than 10 vehicles for inspection to health facilities in the state.
In his speech at the occasion, the Program Manager 3 of the board, Alhaji Mustafa Aliyu said a total number of 1,517119 people have so far received COVID 19 vaccines in Zamfara state from inception to date.
Acccording to Aliyu, a total number of 853,392 people have received the first dose, 555,509 received the second dose, while 107209 people have received the booster dose.
Aliyu said with this developmnet, only 33% of the total number of people of the state have so far received the vaccines.
He stated that, efforts were being made to vaccinate 70% of the people of the state before the end of September this year.
“We are trying to ensure that 70% of the people of the state have received the vaccines before the end of September this year”.
He called on the people of the state to use the opportunity and report to any of the CIVID 19 vaccines centres in order to receive the vaccines free of charge before it became commercialized.
He said, “The vaccines are free and are available in all the 736 COVID 19 centres across the state”.
He particularly urged the intending pilgrims from the state who have not received their COVID 19 vaccines to use the opportunity and visit the vaccination centres in order to be vaccinated.
He also stressed the need for pregnant women to deliver in a health facility in order to protect both the mother and the newborn baby from complications and other related diseases.
He said, “If for example a mother is a carrier of a certain disease, the newborn baby would be vaccinated within 24 hours and will be protected from contracting the disease”.
“If on the other hand a newborn baby misses the vaccination, the chances in contracting the disease is positive”.
Aliyu solicited for the cooperation and support from the media organizations for proper sensitization of the general public
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Ismail Tukur said, the routine immunization has been on with the assistance of the state Governor.
Tukur stated that, Zamfara the state over 700 health facilities across the state, adding that, over 600 facilities were engaged in monthly routine immunization in the state.
He also disclosed that Contributory Health Care fund was introduced to improve health care delivery in the state.
He appreciated the complimentary efforts of partners in supporting the quality health care delivery in the state.
“We conducted campaigns on malaria, meases, cholera, meanigities, turbaclosis and others childhood diseases to ensure our children were immunize”.
