(http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Minister-of-Health-Prof.-Onyebuchi-Chukwu-360x225.jpg)As part of the National Polio Eradication Emergency Plan, United Nation's Children Fund and its partners have trained and deployed 510 Volunteer Community Mobilisers in Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
In a statement, the agency said a total of 957 volunteer community mobilisers (557 in Kano, 200 in Kebbi and 200 in Sokoto) would be fully operational by the end of April 2012.
It said, "In the second phase, the initiative will be expanded to Zamfara, Jigawa and Borno by June 2012, and Katsina and Yobe by August 2012 ,depending on funds availability.
"With the support of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this initiative will contribute to reducing the percentage of missed children through targeted interventions house-to-house to generate demand for and acceptance of oral polio vaccine," UNICEF said.
According to the agency, 2,150 settlement level volunteer mobilisers in total, will be recruited, trained and deployed in the settlements where missed children and refusals to oral polio vaccine are still persistent.
Inaugurated at national level in September 2011, the Polio-Free Torch Campaign will complete this month the series of inauguration in the Northern States which are still considered at very high risk from the wild polio virus. "This includes Niger (October 2011), Kano (November 2011), Jigawa (December 2011), Kaduna and Kebbi (February 2012), Bauchi and Gombe (March 2012), Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara (April 2012)," it said.
The Punch
thanks UNICEF..hope they have safety at those northern states?