Stakeholders on routine immunisation programme in Zamfara State have called for the lifting of embargo on the recruitment of health workers at local council levels in order to ensure enough qualified health workers are engaged to provide primary healthcare services to citizens.
This was part of the communiqué issued and signed by Malam Namadi Muhammad at the end of a one day round table meeting to commemorate world immunisation week in the state, organised by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Save the Children International.
Participants observed with concern the persistent gross shortage of health workers in various Primary Health Care facilities, which created serious vacuum in ensuring children under five are fully immunised in Zamfara and Nigeria in general.
The body, through its statement, indicated that the state had banned recruitment of local government workers, including health workers, since 2011, when the present administration assumed office, adding that the development had created huge gaps that need to be closed for every women and children to be immunised.
It also called on the state government to consider immunisation services as one of its priorities through timely release of funds for the implementation of various immunization activities in the state.
Guardian