The Federal Government has kick-started the administering of malaria vaccines in Kebbi State to children between 5 and 11 years.
At the flag-off ceremony in Birnin Kebbi, representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Kamal Musa, said Kebbi and Bayelsa States were selected for the inaugural vaccination, in view of the high prevalence of malaria cases in both states.
Musa said the Federal Government will make vaccines available to the states.
He urged parents, especially mothers to take their children aged between 5 and 11 years for the vaccination.
Representatives of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, expressed concern about the high death toll from malaria nationwide, and explained that 34% of the population suffers from malaria, from which 200,000 deaths are recorded annually
Kebbi Deputy Governor, Umar Abubakar Tafida, thanked the federal government for introducing the programme which he described as a commendable preventive strategy.
He said the fight against malaria is a collective responsibility adding that Kebbi will continue to collaborate with development partners on malaria prevention and control.
