By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF ) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Global Partners including Gavi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and others procured and donated 669,569 oral cholera vaccine doses to the Borno State Government following the outbreak of cholera in the state.
During the handing over ceremony held at the Central Store Maiduguri today , Dr. Gerida Birukila of UNICEF said,” the vaccines were procured in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Global Partners including Gavi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and others.”
“UNICEF is responsible for security and logistics, including the transportation of the vaccines from source to various locations across the country.
“Today’s handing over made it almost one million doses of vaccines to the Borno State Government.
“Recently, we handed over 300,000 doses of the vaccines and we believe it has helped to reduce the spread of the disease.
“The vaccine is available for anyone over one year of age and is safe for use. We believe that it will be used accordingly with the support of the people and government of borno State,” Gerida said
Responding, the Executive Secretary of Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHCDA), Professor Mohammed Arab represented by the Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Hajiya Fati Ali, urged the public to take advantage of the vaccines and protect themselves against the disease.
