Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia officially launched the 2025 National immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) on Saturday at the FSP Clinic in Makurdi.
Focusing on the health and well-being of children aged 0 to 59 months, this year’s campaign is critical for the prosperity and future of the state.
During the flag-off event, Governor Alia, represented by his deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, mni, underscored the urgency of achieving herd immunity for children. He called on parents, caregivers, community leaders, and religious organisations to actively participate in the campaign.
“It is our collective responsibility to safeguard the health of our children,” he remarked, urging unity in the effort to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated, irrespective of their location.
The Governor also addressed the council chairmen of the 23 local government areas, urging them to demonstrate commitment to the NIPDs campaign by providing logistical support, supervising the vaccination exercise, and attending daily review meetings to monitor progress throughout the four-day immunisation initiative.
He acknowledged the contributions of healthcare professionals and volunteers leading the campaign, and assured that his administration is committed to increasing the health workforce to better meet the demands of primary healthcare.
The Governor further expressed gratitude to the federal government, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other stakeholders who have collaborated in making the immunisation campaign possible.
In his address, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, while highlighting the urgency of the campaign, expressed concern that, in the 21st century, parents still need persuasion to vaccinate their children.
Dr. Ortese proudly noted that the last recorded case of polio in Benue occurred in 2018, and expressed optimism that the ongoing renovation and upgrading of 98 primary health centres across the state would enhance service delivery in rural areas.
Mrs. Grace Ashiver Wende, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, affirmed that the NIPDs campaign is a collaborative effort aimed at ensuring that “every child, regardless of socio-economic background, has access to life-saving vaccines”.
Mrs. Wende disclosed that 2,087 teams of health workers and support staff have been trained and are ready to serve the 276 wards across Benue during the immunisation programme.
Makurdi Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Joseph Keffi, represented by Supervisory Councillor for Health, Hon. Terwase Samuel, praised Governor Alia’s developmental intiatives in the healthcare sector and pledged his commitment to ensuring the campaign’s success within the local government area.
Meanwhile, Ter Makurdi, Chief Vincent Aule, emphasised that the success of the vaccination initiative is closely tied to community safety and security.
Mr. Shola Abdulazak and Dr. Mohammed Abdulkadrim, representatives of the National Primary Health Care Development Board and WHO respectively, in their separate goodwill messages commended the state government’s unwavering support for the NIPDs campaign, reiterating the critical importance of sustained commitment in the fight against polio and other preventable diseases in the country.
This year’s NIPDs campaign coincides with the 2025 Africa Vaccination Week, a continent-wide initiative aimed at promoting the significance of vaccines and immunisation. The theme, “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible,” underscores the imperative of making vaccinations available to every child, irrespective of their circumstances.