The Yobe State Government is set to launch a statewide Yellow Fever mass vaccination campaign on Thursday, November 12, 2024. The initiative, led by Governor Mai Mala Buni in collaboration with the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and development partners, will span 12 days and cover all 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

The primary goal of the campaign is to vaccinate 85% of the population aged between 9 months and 44 years. According to Dr. Babagana Kundi Machina, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board, the vaccination will take place at health facilities and designated vaccination sites across communities.

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can cause severe liver damage and poses a significant health threat worldwide, with over 200,000 reported cases and approximately 10,000 deaths annually. The disease, while preventable through vaccination, remains a public health challenge.

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In preparation for the campaign, a comprehensive social mobilization and community engagement strategy has been put in place. This will include extensive advocacy and sensitization efforts to ensure that all eligible individuals are informed about the importance of receiving the Yellow Fever vaccine. Members of the social mobilization and community engagement committee recently participated in a training workshop to better equip them for community outreach during the campaign.

Dr. Umar Chiromari, Director of Immunisation and Disease Control, stressed the importance of achieving high vaccination coverage not only for Yellow Fever but also for other vaccines like Measles, Polio, and HPV. Stakeholders such as Ali Musa Yawale, Director of Information at the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Gabriel Dan Azare from UNICEF also emphasized the critical need to meet the campaign’s targets for the health and well-being of the state’s population.