The Nasarawa State Government has called on parents and caregivers to embrace routine immunization to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases. The government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the well-being of its citizens through proactive healthcare interventions.

This call was made today by the State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Immanuel Agbadu Akabe, during the flag-off ceremony of the 2025 National Immunization Day and Outbreak Response at the Andoma Palace in Doma.

The Governor emphasized the importance of routine immunization in preventing childhood killer diseases and noted that immunization remains the most effective way to safeguard children’s health.

The immunization campaign is scheduled to take place from Saturday, April 26th to Tuesday, April 29th, 2025. During this period, healthcare workers will visit homes, places of worship, and schools to administer oral polio vaccines to all eligible children aged 0–5 years across the state. The Governor also called on religious and community leaders to support the program to ensure its success.

He further urged the public to maintain good hygiene practices, including avoiding open defecation and improper waste disposal in waterways, to prevent cholera and malaria outbreaks.

In his remarks, the Andoma of Doma, HRH Aliyu Ahmadu Ogah, commended the state government’s commitment to the health and well-being of its people, particularly its efforts to eliminate childhood diseases such as polio.

Delivering a vote of thanks, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh, attributed the successes of immunization and other healthcare interventions to the unwavering support of Governor Abdullahi Sule, who consistently approves counterpart funding for health programs. He also appreciated the contributions of development partners who have supported the agency in carrying out immunization activities.

In their separate remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwona, along with representatives from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, UNICEF, and WHO, commended the state government for its prompt response to disease prevention and encouraged parents to cooperate by ensuring their children receive the vaccines.