Bayelsa Receives U.S. CDC Award For Immunisation Success, Ranks Among Top Five States In Teachers' Certification

Bayelsa State has received international recognition from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), in collaboration with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), for its outstanding achievements in immunisation and disease surveillance.

The award was presented to Governor Douye Diri during the 193rd meeting of the State Executive Council at Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.

Presenting the award, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, said the honour followed an assessment visit by the Global Immunization Division of the United States Embassy in July, during which Bayelsa's remarkable progress in expanding immunisation coverage and strengthening disease surveillance was acknowledged.

According to him, the state successfully immunised more than 30,000 children and reduced the number of zero-dose children—those who had not received any routine vaccine—from about 4,000 to 2,100 within one year.

Brisibe attributed the achievement to the state's strategic partnership with Zipline, whose drone technology has significantly improved the delivery of vaccines and other essential medical supplies to remote riverine communities.

He added that Bayelsa also emerged as the best-performing state among participants in the malaria vaccine pilot programme.

The commissioner further highlighted other milestones recorded by the Ministry of Health, including the training and deployment of over 720 primary healthcare workers to strengthen immunisation services in difficult-to-reach communities, the deployment of tricycle ambulances, and the integration of cottage hospitals into the state's primary healthcare system to expand access to essential health services.

Also briefing the council, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, announced that Bayelsa ranked fifth nationwide in the recent Teachers' Professional Qualifying Examination conducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

He said the achievement reflected the Prosperity Administration's sustained commitment to improving the quality of education in the state, noting that Bayelsa had recently emerged first in the country in the National Examinations Council (NECO) ranking for the highest number of candidates who obtained five credits and above.

Responding, Governor Douye Diri commended the Ministry of Health for its outstanding performance but urged officials to intensify efforts toward eliminating the remaining cases of zero-dose children.

"While this achievement is commendable, it also tells us that about 2,000 children are yet to be immunised. I urge the Ministry of Health not to relent until every eligible child in Bayelsa receives life-saving vaccines. Nonetheless, I commend you for the excellent work you are doing," the governor said.

Diri also congratulated the Ministry of Education on its accomplishment but challenged teachers and education administrators to strive for greater excellence.

"Ranking fifth among the 36 states is encouraging. It shows that we are making progress. However, our target should be to rank among the top three and ultimately become number one in the country. I urge our teachers to redouble their efforts to make Bayelsa the leading state in educational excellence," he stated.

The governor noted that the achievements in the health and education sectors demonstrated that government policies, approvals, and investments were yielding measurable results across ministries, departments, and agencies.

He further observed that the increasing number of national and international recognitions received by the state reflected his administration's commitment to delivering quality governance and improving the well-being of the people.

On the state's independent power project, Governor Diri assured residents that every part of Yenagoa would eventually be connected to the gas-powered electricity network.

He acknowledged that technical challenges had delayed expansion to some areas but reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring equitable access to electricity across the state capital.

The governor appealed to residents to remain patient and avoid spreading misinformation capable of undermining the peace and security currently enjoyed in Bayelsa.

"The peace and security we enjoy in Bayelsa are paramount. I appeal to our people to exercise patience and avoid spreading false information. Every nook and cranny of Yenagoa will eventually be connected to the gas turbine. There may be teething challenges in some areas, but they will certainly be overcome for the benefit of everyone," he said.