The Jigawa Government says it has targeted 720,000 persons in the ongoing cholera vaccination exercise in the state.

Dr Kabir Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (JSPHCDA), stated this while fielding question from newsmen on Thursday in Dutse.

Ibrahim said the state had received about N1.4 million doses of the vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Health to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise.

He said the vaccines would be administered to the targeted populations in three high burden local government areas of the state.

The Secretary listed the areas to include Birninkudu, Dutse and Hadejia, adding that the vaccine would be administered on people from the age of one and above.

According to him, the vaccine will be administered in two doses on the interval of four weeks.

“Today marks the beginning of administration of oral vaccines for cholera. We’ve received about 1.4 million doses of the vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Nealth, through World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The target population is from the age of one and above are eligible for the vaccination and also the target areas are Birninkudu, Dutse and Hadejia LGAs,” he said.

Ibrahim recalled that the exercise was inaugurated in the presence of Emir of Dutse, Dr Nuhu Muhammad, representative of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, among other stakeholders.

The gesture, he said, is to control cholera disease especially in the high burden areas.

“In the last four months, Jigawa recorded more than 20,000 cases with about 500 deaths. So the vaccine is going to put a stop to the menace,” he said.

“And while providing the vaccination, we called on the residents to continue with the protocols of infection control and prevention.

“These include washing of hands before and after visiting the toilet, washing of food items, keep a clean environment and consume safe drinking water, among others.

“We also sensitised communities on how to decontaminate water sources such as wells and reservoirs, especially in the high burden areas,” he said.

Ibrahim said that the vaccine was administered to the Emir of Dutse, representative of WHO and the state’s Immunisation Officer, to promote participation in the vaccination exercise.

“By so doing, we’ve demonstrated to people that we’ve brought a vaccine that’s safe and effective.”

According to him, adequate personnel are deployed to administer the vaccine at designated health facilities in the cholera prone areas.

He urged residents of the state to ensure that they were vaccinated against the deadly disease.