Speaking at the exercise’s flagoff in the Kalambaina area of Wamakko LGA on Friday, Muhammad Rilwan, the state’s Sight Savers program coordinator, explained that it was due to the high child mortality rate that lead to the exercise.

Noting that the state recorded a 25% yearly rate of child death, explained that the children were administered Azithromycin which was a very effective antibiotic.

He said, “It will prevent the children against diseases such as pneumonia and measles.

“The drug was tested and found very effective. We gave the first and the second rounds of the drug in this local government and the results are positive, hence the need for this third round.”

Mr. Garba Bashar, the state’s immunisation officer, thanked Sight Savers for the gesture and promised to continue supporting them.