Six of the 16 local government areas in Taraba State have been identified as having high cases of maternal and neonatal tetanus, raising concerns over the need to intensify efforts to eliminate the preventable disease.

The affected local government areas are Gashaka, Gassol, Lau, Ibi, Ussa and Sardauna.

Taraba was also identified as the state with the highest risk of maternal and neonatal tetanus in the North-East, with six of the 28 local government areas classified as high-risk areas across the five states in the region located in the state.

The disclosure was made at a stakeholders’ meeting organised ahead of the commencement of the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) campaign in the state.

Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Nuhu Tukura, said the campaign would run from September 28 to October 2 as part of efforts to protect pregnant women and newborns from the preventable but potentially fatal disease.

Tukura said the exercise would focus on increasing awareness, strengthening immunisation coverage and improving access to maternal and newborn healthcare services across the state.

He noted that maternal and neonatal tetanus remained a public health concern, particularly in communities where women have limited access to antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, clean delivery practices and tetanus vaccination.

According to him, the campaign would involve health workers, community leaders and other stakeholders in reaching women of reproductive age, particularly those in underserved communities.

“The elimination initiative is aimed at ensuring that mothers and newborns are protected from tetanus infections associated with unsafe delivery and unhygienic practices,” he said.

Tukura added that, apart from vaccinating eligible women of childbearing age and newborns against tetanus, vaccination against diphtheria would also be administered during the exercise.

He stressed the need for concerted efforts to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus, noting that Nigeria continues to face a significant burden of maternal deaths globally.

Also speaking, the Programme Officer of Chigeri Foundation, Mohammed Sale, stressed the need for greater collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to ensure the success of the campaign.

He said the involvement of community leaders would help build trust and encourage eligible beneficiaries to participate in the exercise.

The representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the meeting also warned against the risk of misinformation during the campaign, stressing the need for effective risk communication.

The WHO representative said key messages capable of encouraging eligible beneficiaries to embrace the vaccination exercise must be communicated clearly and consistently.

The media were also urged to go beyond routine reporting by taking relevant information and answers to communities to address concerns that could discourage people from participating in the exercise.

Other stakeholders, including leaders of the two major religious groups, traditional rulers, women’s associations and the leadership of private schools across the state, pledged their support for the campaign.

They promised to work with health authorities and other partners to ensure that the exercise reaches eligible beneficiaries and contributes to the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in Taraba State.

The stakeholders meeting, organised by the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with other partners, was supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund.