Cholera Outbreak: Vaccination Rate Worries Bauchi PHCDA Boss

The Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed has expressed concern over the decline in vaccination rates among Bauchi indigenes amidst prevalence of cholera epidemic ravaging the state.

According to him, BASPHCDA flagged-off the vaccination exercise at Bayan Fada primary school in Bauchi metropolis for four consecutive days without the much needed response.

He stated at the state flag-off of the cholera vaccination campaign at Government House Wednesday, that “This meeting is at the instance of the Executive Governors  request. We did our flag-off by at Bayan Fada Primary School four days ago, but people have not taken the vaccine”.

“His Excellency decided to invite everybody to show the importance of this vaccine that is given to only Bauchi state, he said  I should also invite the emirs of Bauchi and Dass and all the religious leaders so as to show the importance of the vaccine”, Rilwanu said.

According to the agency, it is the fifth day when the campaign after the campaign was launched at the state level, lamenting however that that cholera has spread to 19 of the 20 LGAs of the state with the exception of only Bogoro Local Government Area.

The BASPHCDA boss  assured that his agency is working assiduously with local government health authorities to control cholera outbreaks in various communities in the state, giving the hard hit LGAs as Bauchi, Toro, and Ningi from where the deadly started on April 24, 2021.

He disclosed that the state has received 1.5 million doses of the vaccine from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NAPHCDA) through the facilitation and support of WHO, UNICEF and other Development Partners operating in the state.

Rilwanu, who gave the immunity of the vaccine as three good years, said his agency has so far decontaminated 5,000 wells and disinfected 2,600 households in Bauchi metropolis. 

He revealed that “as of today, 18 states in the federation and FCT, Abuja are reporting cholera disease”.

He described cholera as an acute bacterial infection associated with profuse diarrhea and vomiting, and rehydration and death, calling on the people to observe high level of hygiene and environmental sanitation, coupled with hands washing before and after meals.

Flagging-off the vaccination campaign, Governor Bala Mohammed said the event has further demonstrated the commitment of the state government to the provision of quality and effective healthcare services in Bauchi.

He explained the fact that only Bauchi received the vaccines in the country is another indication of the strong collaboration with its development partners in the health sector and their goodwill to the present administration in the state.

Governor Bala Mohammed announced the release of N45 million for effective response to cholera outbreak in the areas of drugs and consumables provision, community awareness, environmental sanitation enforcement and disinfection of households, among others.

Bala disclosed that cholera vaccination exercise has been carried out in 16 wards of Bauchi LGAs, and two wards each in Toro and Dass where the epidemic is more severe.

He assured that the state government will continue to invest in vaccines to the provision of quality healthcare through adequate release of funds, especially counterpart funding.