UNICEF targets 7.8m children for vaccination against measles in Kano State
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has targeted about 7.8 million children aged between nine months and 14 years for vaccination against measles in Kano State, as part of renewed efforts to curb the spread of the disease in the state.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Rahama Farah, said this at the Media Dialogue, Orientation and Mobilization Session on the Integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign in Kano State on Monday.
He said that the campaign aimed to vaccinate 7.8 million children aged 9 months to 14 years against measles and rubella, and 2.3 million children under five years old against polio.
“The objective of this session is for the partners to share information with participants on the upcoming integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign scheduled for October 25.
“To support the cold chain and vaccines management system 3 VSLs, 44 LGAs Vaccines Accountability Officers (VAOs) and 684 Ward Vaccines Accountability Officers have been trained and deployed in the state to support the integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign.
“While acknowledging the progress made possible by the Government and partners, our goal of halting the circulation of the polio virus in Kano State is yet to be achieved.
“Kano has reported three cases of a variant of polio virus (cVPV2) so far in 2025, one each from Warawa, Bunkure and Nassarawa LGAs compared to 31 cVPV2 cases from 17 LGAs in 2024,” he said.
Farah added:”The October Integrated Polio Vaccination Campaign presents another opportunity for us to work towards eradicating polio. Everyone has a role to play, including the media.
“It is important to highlight that the upcoming integrated campaign is planned and implemented collaboratively by partners including, the Federal Ministry of Health; the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency; WHO; Gavi; the Gates Foundation, Civil Society Organization, UNICEF and the Kano State Government.
“It is important to highlight that the upcoming integrated campaign is planned and implemented collaboratively by partners including, the Federal Ministry of Health; the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency; WHO; Gavi; the Gates Foundation, Civil Society Organization, UNICEF and the Kano State Government.
“National Primary Healthcare Development Agency with the support of UNICEF has allocated 3,347 teams, provided 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of (bOPV) targeting 3.9 million children under five years age in the state for the October polio vaccination campaign.
“For the success of the exercise, UNICEF has trained 3,300 health workers on Improved Interpersonal Communication Skills, including the training of 870 Non-Compliance Resolution Teams members.”
