7,000 children are enrolled by UNICEF in Yobe to receive free medical care.

7,000 children are enrolled by UNICEF in Yobe to receive free medical care.

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has enrolled 7,000 zero-dose children for free healthcare services in Gulani and Geidam local government areas of Yobe State.

The program is in collaboration with the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA).

Yobe State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana, stated this at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting.

According to him, the zero-dose children are children aged between 12 and 23 months who have not received their first dose of diphtheria, tetanus, BCG, polio, meningococcal, and pertussis-containing vaccine (DPT-1).

He explained: “Through the partnership with UNICEF, 3,500 children from each area will be covered with a pre-payment plan to access primary and secondary healthcare services in all YSCHMA-accredited and engaged health facilities across the selected local government areas.”