The Katsina State government has launched “Operation Rubdubu,” an aggressive initiative aimed at improving the uptake of routine immunization to protect children from deadly diseases. This approach is part of a renewed effort to tackle the state’s weak immunization rates, which have been linked to outbreaks of preventable illnesses among children.
Dr. Shaima’u Kabir Abba, Project Manager of the State Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre, revealed this during a media orientation session. She explained that the operation is a response to findings from the state’s quarterly Lot Quality Assurance Survey (LQAS), which showed several Local Government Areas (LGAs) performing below expectations in routine immunization coverage since late 2017.
“Operation Rubdubu†involves a collaborative effort among state and local government staff, community leaders, and healthcare providers. The strategy focuses on intensively improving immunization in one LGA at a time before moving to another, ensuring that all eligible children are fully immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Shaima’u pointed out that a lack of awareness among caregivers about the importance of routine immunization is a key factor behind the high number of unimmunized children in the state.
Dr. Shamsudeen Yahaya, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency, also emphasized the crucial role of the media in raising awareness at the grassroots level. He called on the media to help educate the public on the significance of immunization, encouraging communities to demand these vital health services for the well-being of their children and society at large.
