Concerns as Bauchi runs out of vaccines for newborn babies

By Rauf Oyewole

Parents of infants in Bauchi State are in palpable fear over the ongoing lack of essential life saving vaccines immunisation to prevent newborn babies from diseases, such as Hepatitis and tuberculosis which the popular BCG is given within 24 hours of delivery. 

It was gathered that most of the Primary HealthCare Centres within the Bauchi metropolis –including the private facilities do not have the vaccines, leaving the lactating mothers and babies in emergency conditions.

One of the concerned mothers, Mrs Aisha Abubakar who spoke with our Correspondent on Saturday lamented that after 14 days of delivery, she has been unable to get BCG vaccine for her first child, expressing fear of any medical issues.

She said: “They keep telling us at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and Specialist Hospital and all these PHCs that the immunisation is out of stock. We have been going but for about two weeks now, there is no access to the vaccine.”

Another mother, Hauwa Musa explained that she could not hold a naming ceremony in a bid to prevent the infant from having contact with infected adults during visitation. “We were advised that the baby be restricted from having contact with different people since we have not been able to receive the necessary immunisation.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board (BSPHCDB), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, confirmed the development, saying that the commodity could not be purchased in the market as it is being supplied by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) with support from Gavi and WHO.

“The vaccines are not available. You know we don't buy in the market, it is free of charge and being given by NPHCDA and now it is out of stock. We also give all the private hospitals free. It is not only BCG; even yellow fever, there are about five of them that are not available.”

Mohammed advised patients to check the next facility that may have the vaccines. 

He said that the development is not connected with the USAID withdrawal. “The vaccines are provided by the Federal Government and Gavi and WHO. It is not related to USAID. 

He explained that the state has written to the Federal Government about the situation while awaits the next supply.