The Yobe Committee on Routine Immunisation against childhood killer diseases, says it will partner 9,470 ward heads in Damaturu Emirate to ensure immunisation compliance and coverage.

Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, Yobe Deputy Governor and Chairman of the committee, stated this on Thursday at an interactive session with members of the Damaturu Emirate Council.

He expressed concern over the drop in routine immunisation coverage in the emirate, saying the committee would explore every available opportunity to improve the coverage.

Aliyu charged the council to see the drop as a personal challenge and duty to kick out polio out of their communities, according to the News Agency of Nigetia, NAN.

‘‘We cannot afford to relax and expose our wards to any danger of polio; we must work collectively to ensure every child in our various communities is immunised.

‘‘As leaders in our own right, we must ensure that no one is left out to constitute any danger or threat to our collective well being,’’ he said.

Aliyu advised district and village heads to forward challenges being faced in their communities to the committee.

He stated that this would assist members of the committee to tackle the problems and improve immunisation coverage in their respective areas.

He commended the Bill and Melinda Gates and Dangote Foundations for supporting immunisation exercise in the state.

The Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu Hashimi El-Kanemi, gave assurance that the emirate council would continue to work hard to address the challenges that caused the fall in immunisation coverage in his area.

He also expressed the commitment of the emirate to improve on areas of cooperation with the committee for the success of the exercise.