UNICEF’s Commitment to Polio Eradication Yields Results in Bauchi

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported a significant resolution of polio vaccination non-compliance cases in the Kundum Durum community of Bauchi, Bauchi State. According to Nuru Abdullahi, polio ward focal person, Kundum Durum, “Out of the over 2000 houses visited in the community, less than 10 houses are still recorded with non-compliance.”

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Abdullahi noted that the UNICEF team, led by Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Bauchi Office, intervened and resolved the non-compliance cases immediately. “Even the houses where non-compliance is recorded have been resolved immediately when the UNICEF team came for supervision,” he said.

As of the third day of the vaccination exercise, over 4,000 children between the ages of zero and five had been vaccinated. Abdullahi attributed the success to the recruitment of ad-hoc vaccinators from the respective communities and the increase in their allowance from N26,000 to N30,600 per team.

“The recruitment of the ad-hoc vaccinators in the respective community in question is the game changer. Also, the increase in the allowance of the ad-hoc vaccinators… equally played a vital role,” Abdullahi said.

The ward head of Durum, Nasiru Ahmad, explained that the initial resistance to the vaccine was not due to cultural or religious reasons but rather a show of grievances over uneven distribution of government incentives. “Whenever there was a distribution of palliative by the government for any reason, some individuals who were not lucky enough to benefit trended their grievances to the vaccination officers,” Ahmad said.

However, Ahmad noted that the issues were resolved whenever community representatives intervened. He appreciated the World Health Organisation and UNICEF for their continued intervention in health-related issues.

Abdullahi also commended the increase in allowance for the ad-hoc vaccinators, saying it was “timely and commendable.” He added that the ward was provided with enough vaccines and working materials, which contributed to the success of the exercise

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