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Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku
Taraba State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku says his administration is determined to provide functional Primary Health Care facility in all the nooks and crannies of the State.
Governor Darius Ishaku stated this Friday in Sabon Gari Primary school Jalingo while flagging off the the second outbreak Response Sub National Immunization Plus Days SNIPDS, reiterating the determination of his Rescue Mission to provide all the Primary Health Care facilities with competent staff that would provide 24 hours services.
He maintained that his Government is poised to enhance manpower development by repositioning and strengthening the State College of Nursing and Midwifery and College of Health Technology Takum which will help provide a more robust and sustainable Health Institution geared towards churning out qualitative health personnel for the State.
The Governor mentioned that because of his desire to further improve health delivery services in the State, his administration created an enabling environment for the newly legislated Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency TSPHCDA, that is saddled with the responsibility of providing quality, affordable and accessible health service to all corners of the State.
Furthermore, the Governor said his administration will continue to explore more avenues to partner with international Donor agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, CDC, N-Stop and other global institutions to help provide financial and technical support in providing Health Care services to the people at all levels.
Gov. Darius Administering Polio Vaccine
The Governor spoke more on the outbreak Response which is meant to raise firewall that will boost immunity of our children and keep our community safe from infectious diseases, “To those people in the huts and villages located on the hills, valleys and rivers of Taraba State, in struggling to break the bonds of inaccessible quality healthcare, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required not because we seek their votes, but because it is right, it is safe and free.
“Now the trumpet summons us once again not as a call to bear arms,though armed with OPV we need not as a call to battle, though embattled we are by those who say NO to accepting vaccination of their children and others, to those who promote messages of despair that the vaccines are not safe and those who threaten and torment the young men and women who sacrifice their lives to keep Taraba safe and healthy, we beg for a re birth. Taraba cannot survive on such anti-polio vaccination campaigns- it is a call to bear the burden of a long struggle, year in and year out, “rejoicing in hope; patience tribulation,”” a struggle against the Common enemies of our children and those unborn: disease and ignorance”, he emphasised.
Governor Darius Ishaku said he will liaise with Taraba State House of Assembly to come up with legislation that borders on mandatory vaccination on all Tarabans and added that his partnership with UNICEF in the Hard – to – Reach project resulted in giving jobs to about 450 indigenes of the State and tasked all Local Government Chairmen, stakeholders and traditional rulers to give the programme the desired support in their respective areas.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Innocent Vakkai appreciated the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku for his determination to ensure that Health Care Delivery services takes its rightful place in his administration and that he has been consistent in the release of funds in combatting all the killer diseases with particular emphasis on Polio eradication.
Innocent Vakkai disclosed that the Governor made funds available for the first round of Polio outbreak Response which was held in August and equally did same for the second round which commences on September 17, and thanked Governor Darius Ishaku for personally flagging off the second round.
The Health Commissioner informed the gathering that the outbreak Response is meant to tackle resurgence of Polio in some parts of Borno State and called on opinion, religious and political leaders and the traditional institutions to join hands with the State Government to fight the Poliovirus and other killer diseases, lamenting that there are still reported cases of rejection particularly by the immigrants that are presently taking refuge in the State.
In a goodwill message, the World Health Organisation Representative, Dr. Jerry Pantuvo said the outbreak Response is meant to stop the spread of Polio virus which resurfaced in Manguno, Gwoza and Jere all in Borno State, adding that about 25 cases of Polio outbreak were recorded, out of which 3 cases are in Nigeria with the remaining recorded in Afghanistan, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Dr. Pantuvo charged the State Government to strengthen the Health Care system in the state, have a rethink of enacting laws to curtail non compliance and disclosed that WHO and it’s partners committed about 95.2 million Naira for the campaign while UNICEF contributed 20 million naira for the training of personnel and appreciated the Taraba State Government for the “wonderful support”.
He suggested the upward review of allowances given to personnel, saying that the present amount of 500 Naira per day is grossly inadequate considering the harsh economic realities of the country.
On the part of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Executive Secretary, Aminu Jauro Hassan appreciated the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku for the wonderful support and assured of their readiness to work assiduously towards the success of the programme.
Aminu Jauro Hassan also praised the cordial working relationship with partners and donor agencies and solicited for more support and harmonious interactions, calling on the caregivers and parents to avail themselves and their children the rare opportunity provided by the Rescue Mission of the Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku and assured that, they will cover all the 167 designated political wards of the State within this period.
Highlights of the event was the administration of the Polio vaccines on some children by Governor Darius Ishaku, presentation of three vaccines storage container to ALGON Chairman, Hon. Stephen Ibrahim Agya, while the State cultural troupe thrilled the gathering with drama and dance.
