Jigawa To Vaccinate 1.5m Children Against Polio As UNICEF Targets Zero Cases By December
By: Maharazu Ahmed
The Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA) is targeting over 1.5 million children under five for vaccination in the November polio immunisation campaign across the state.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Shehu Sambo, announced this during the Jigawa State Media Dialogue on the November Polio Vaccination Campaign held in Dutse.
He said that a total of 1,516,244 children are expected to receive polio vaccines across 287 political wards in all the 27 local government areas of the state.
Sambo said that the vaccination will run from 27 to 30 November, using fixed posts and mobile vaccination teams to ensure maximum coverage.
In his remarks, the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Rahama Rihood M. Farah, said although Jigawa has recorded significant progress with a 58% reduction in cVPV2 cases, a drop from 12 in 2024 to five this year, more needs to be done to ensure zero cases by the end of December.
Farah said that the state should intensify efforts to be in tune with the national vaccination campaign scheduled for 29 November–2 December 2025, targeting 42 million children across 21 states and the FCT.
The UNICEF chief appealed to Local Government chairmen to provide strong oversight and urged the media to mobilise parents for full participation.
He reaffirmed that polio vaccines are free, safe and effective, calling on all stakeholders to help end polio transmission across Nigeria.
Farah said this is necessary, because despite the gains recorded so far, polio remains a case of concern, with 72 cases reported in 14 states in 2025.
The Syndicate reports that Jigawa has deployed 3,060 house-to-house teams, 548 special teams, 1,500 trained health workers, and thousands of community mobilisers for the vaccination campaign, including routine immunisation services.
