Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Bayelsa State Government has set its sights on achieving full immunisation coverage in the next National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign, after recording a 98 per cent success rate in the first round held from May 3 to 6.
At a state taskforce meeting on immunisation, Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo expressed optimism about surpassing previous results. “We have taken our immunisation coverage up to 98 per cent. But we want to take it to 100 per cent this time around,” he stated.
He appreciated stakeholders such as WHO, UNICEF, and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) for their contributions but stressed the need for intensified efforts.
Ewhrudjakpo emphasized early planning for the second round of the 2025 NIPDs, scheduled for July 7, promising timely funding and a review of logistics to meet economic realities.
He directed local government chairmen to kick off the programme in communities outside their LG headquarters and to collaborate with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and school owners to boost sensitisation.
“To achieve our target, we need to start early preparations. For that, funds would be released two weeks before the take-off,” he said, while reiterating the government’s stance on compulsory immunisation and warning defaulters of legal consequences.
Detailed reports presented by health officials, including Dr Marcus Oluwadare of WHO and Dr Gbanaibulou Orukari of the State Primary Healthcare Board, confirmed high coverage across LGAs but highlighted challenges such as poor workload management and data falsification.
Oluwadare praised Bayelsa’s leadership in health initiatives, saying, “His Excellency has set a good record for other states to emulate. Bayelsa State was the only state to have full complements of its stakeholders in attendance during the April NIPDs in the whole of Nigeria.”
The meeting also featured updates from local healthcare coordinators and was attended by Health Commissioner Prof Seiyefa Brisibe and all eight LG chairmen.
