Bayelsa has recorded a 98 per cent coverage in the first round of the 2025 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) programme conducted from the May 3 to May 6.
The State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this during a meeting of the state’s taskforce on immunisation in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
He said that the government’s ultimate target was to achieve 100 per cent coverage in subsequent immunisation campaigns.
Ewhrudjakpo lauded the WHO, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and other critical stakeholders for the feat achieved so far.
He, however, urged the partners not to rest on their oars as much still have to be done to achieve its target of 100 per cent immunization coverage.
He underscored the need for early preparations ahead of the second round of 2025 NIPDs scheduled for July.
The deputy governor assured the partners that funds for the programme would be released not later than two weeks to its commencement.
He directed all council chairmen to flag-off the second round of the 2025 NIPDs programme at any community other than their respective local government headquarters.
The deputy governor urged the chairmen to meet with the traditional rulers, school proprietors, and religious leaders in their areas to sensitise them on the importance of immunisation.
He also called parents, schools and churches to allow children to participate in the immunisation programme.
”The state government is serious about enforcing its public health law and executive order on compulsory immunisation.
“We have taken our immunisation coverage up to 98 per cent. But we want to take it to 100 per cent this time around, and that is why we have convened this meeting.
“We are also going to make an upward review of the logistics to reflect the present economic realities in the country,” he said.
Presentations by Dr Marcus Oluwadare of the WHO, and Dr Gbanaibulou Orukari, Director of Disease Control, Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board, revealed that area councils scored high percentage in the coverage.
They, however, identified poor workload rationalisation, data falsification and lack of commitment on the part of some personnel.
According to Oluwadare, we commend the Deputy Governor of the state for flagging off the NIPDs and chairing all the state ERMs in spite of his tight schedule.
“Bayelsa State was the only state to have full complements of her stakeholders in attendance during the April NIPDs in the whole of Nigeria,” he said.
