By Lawal Dogara:
A traditional title holder in Zazzau Emirate of Kaduna State, North West Nigeria, Sulukin Zazzau, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi has appealed to Fulani traditional rulers (Ardos) to give all the necessary support and cooperation to polio immunization in the area.
Alhaji Adamu who is also the District Head of Makarfi made the call in Makarfi at a public Awareness/sensitization exercise organized by Nomadic Immunization Forum for Fulani leaders in Kudan, Makarfi, Ikara and Kudan Local Government Areas.
He said the support becomes necessary to enable all the Fulani Parents accept polio immunization and routine immunization among others.
The District Head urged the Fulani leaders that apart from accepting polio immunization, they should always live together in peace in their domain.
The State Administrative Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, Abdullahi Adamu who stressed the importance of polio immunization and other health issues, urged them to ensure that children of 0-5 years were adequately vaccinated in their communities.
In his presentation, the Kaduna State Coordinator of Journalist’s Initiative on Immunization Against Polio (JAP), Malam Lawal Dogara told the gathering that the Polio vaccines are safe.
According to him, the vaccinations are aimed at making the children to grow well and healthier.
He called on Fulanis to always welcome the vaccinators and present their kids for vaccination saying “it is only when the children were in good health they can work harder to achieve success in life”.
The Director of Primary Health Care (PHC) Makarfi LGA, Abdullahi Sani Bamacco commended the organizers of the sensitization exercise saying that it will help improving polio immunization acceptability, most especially in the Fulani settlements.
At the end of the exercise, Fulani rulers/leaders promised to do their best to enable Fulanis accept Polio immunization at all time.
The four leaders who gave the assurances, were Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji representing Ikara, Alhaji Yusuf Gimi Representing Makarfi, Fulani Abubakar Dandako representing Kudan and Alh. Musa Abubakar Dutsenwai representing Kubau.
According to them, they would sensitize their people for the overall success of polio immunization and routine immunization among others.
