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By Tracy Moses
The Benue State Government has officially officially flagged off the 2025 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign, calling on Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen to provide strong financial and security support to ensure the success of the exercise.
The government also appealed to residents across the state to fully support the four-day campaign, which runs from Saturday through Tuesday, May 1st, 2025.
The campaign targets children aged 0 to 59 months, with officials emphasizing that achieving its objectives would require the collective effort of all Benue citizens to guarantee a healthier future for the state’s children.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Makurdi, The State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, represented by the deputy Governor of the State Barr. Sam Ode, stressed the importance of commitment from all stakeholders.
He particularly tasked the LGA Chairmen to attend the daily evening review meetings with stakeholders to stay updated on the progress of the campaign.
Governor Alia instructed the council bosses to show leadership by ensuring the provision of necessary logistics support, including funding and security arrangements, vital for the success of the immunization effort.
He said, “Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas must demonstrate total commitment by providing all needed logistics such as financial backing, security, and any other necessary support that will drive the success of this campaign.”
Highlighting the significance of the exercise, Alia noted, “Today, we turn our focus to our youngest citizens, children between 0 and 59 months old. These children are the future of Benue State, and it is our responsibility to protect their health and secure their future.”
He added that the immunization drive was not only about administering vaccines but also about building population herd immunity and strengthening the state’s healthcare resilience by ensuring that as many eligible children as possible are vaccinated.
“As we flagoff this campaign across the 23 LGAs, we don’t expect anything less from our LG chairmen and I am going to communicate this to the Special Adviser, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), who is going to set up a Monitoring Committee that will move round the 23 LGs.
“Honourable Commissioner for Health and Human Services, you will make sure that we meet with the Special Adviser, BLGCA, by Monday, so that a Committee will be set up at the level of the Bureau to monitor and supervise this exercise across the 23 LGAs.
“The chairmen must also supervise the exercise and most importantly, attend the daily Evening Review Meetings for the four days of the exercise to renew progress together with other stakeholders.
“As we kick off the NIPDs campaign, let us remember that vaccines are not just shots; they are shields against preventable diseases. They are shields that protect our children from suffering and ensure a brighter, healthier future for them. Let us rally around this important cause and make this campaign a resounding success; healthy children are the foundation of a prosperous and vibrant Benue state.
“I want to take a moment to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our healthcare professionals and volunteers who will be at the forefront of this campaign.
“Your unwavering commitment to the health of our children is truly commendable. We appreciate your efforts, and I assure you that the Benue State Government stands with you in this endeavor and will in due course increase the Health Workforce to meet the requirement of the Minimum Service Package for Health Care delivery at Primary Health Care Level.
“In conclusion, let me express my gratitude to our partners, including the federal government, WHO, UNICEF, and all the organizations/stakeholders that have collaborated with us to make this campaign possible. Together, we can achieve a higher level of herd immunity, ensuring the safety and health of our children”, he said
In her address, Executive Secretary, Benue State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), Mrs Grace Ashi Wende, noted that the Board has despatched about 2,087 teams across the 277 council wards in the state, comprising health workers and adhoc staff that have been trained to embark on the exercise so that all eligible children are vaccinated.
According to her, “NIPDs, is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of their socio-economic background, has access to life-saving vaccines. It is a collaborative effort between our state government, the federal government, and our invaluable partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and various non-governmental organizations, who have worked tirelessly to make this program a reality.
“Two Thousand and Eighty-Seven teams comprising Health workers and other designated adhoc staff have been trained across the 277 wards to conduct these four days immunization programme ensuring every eligible child is vaccinated.
Wende, emphasized that immunization is more than a health intervention, it is a moral duty that directly impacts the wellbeing and prosperity of the state.
“When we immunize our children, we are protecting them from deadly diseases and giving them the opportunity to grow, attend school, and become productive citizens,” Wende said. “It is a responsibility we all share, to our children, to our communities, and to the future of Benue.”
He called on all stakeholders to treat immunization with the urgency it deserves, stressing that by doing so, Benue State could become a model for immunization success in Nigeria.
Making specific appeals to the state government, Wende urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to prioritize increasing the Human Resource for Health (HRH) at the primary health care level to meet the requirements of the Minimum Service Package. He also requested urgent repairs to the freezer compartment of the state’s Walk-in Cold Room to boost vaccine storage capacity and ensure vaccine potency.
Wende also paid tribute to the healthcare workers tirelessly driving immunization efforts across the state. “Your dedication to reaching even the most remote communities is not unnoticed. You are the true heroes of our healthcare system, and we owe you our deepest gratitude,” he said.
He called on parents, guardians, and community and religious leaders to actively support the campaign and ensure that no child is left behind. Wende particularly commended the traditional rulers and religious leaders in Benue for their continuous support towards immunization and other primary healthcare initiatives.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, expressed concern over the reluctance of some parents and guardians to immunize their children against vaccine-preventable diseases like polio. He lamented that such attitudes continue to fuel the persistence of preventable diseases in the society.
Also speaking, the Ter Makurdi, HRH Chief Vincent Aule represented by the Kindred Head of Wurukum, Makurdi, Chief Simon Ugondo Tor warned that the worsening insecurity in the state could hinder the success of the immunization exercise if not urgently addressed.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area (LGA) added a grim note, revealing that just the previous night, armed herdsmen had attacked communities in the area, resulting in multiple fatalities.
“Despite these challenges, stakeholders remain resolute in their commitment to safeguarding the health of every child in Benue State,” he said.