800,000 kids to get polio immunization in N Nigeria

LAGOS, Jan. 31 (Chinese media) -- About 800,000 children

under five years are targeted in northern Nigeria Sokoto State for the four days

first round Immunization Plus Days (IPDs), which started nationwide on Saturday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the children

will be administered with polio, measles, diphtheria, yellow fever and hepatitis

B vaccines.

The immunized children would be given detergents and

paracetamol tablets. Umaru Attahiru, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health,

said the exercise was part of efforts to totally eradicate the wild poliovirus

in the country.

"June 2009 has now been set as the final target date

for the interruption of the WPV in Nigeria by the national and international

communities in the fight against poliomyelitis," he added.

Aattahiru said the exercise would be conducted in 725

fixed posts located in the 244 wards of the state, adding that the interruption

could be achieved because virus was less active in the dry season.

"Communities that are very difficult to reach during

the rainy season because they are cut off by rivers and streams can easily be

reached now," he said.

A virus that invades the nervous system and can cause

total paralysis or death causes polio, which mainly affects children under

five.