Polio: Jigawa Govt to Vaccinate 1.9m Children in 6 Days
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The Jigawa state government will immunise 1.9 million children against polio virus in six days, beginning from April 24 to April 30,
the Executive Secretary of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr Shehu Sambo, has said.
He made this known during a day Media Dialogue on Polio and Routine Immunization organized by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday in Dutse.
The executive secretary was represented by the programme manager, Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre, Dr Shehu Ibrahim.
He expressed concern about noncompliance which is leading to missing some children from recieving the vaccine, thereby exposing them and others to the virus.
Dr Shehu also said some communities have been placing conditions on government before allowing their children to be vaccinated. “What is the relationship with water supply and routing immunization?”.
“In February 2025 immunisation exercise, a total of seven children were missed in Garki, Kaugama and Maigatari Local Government area “
“The State Government has introduced various measures to ensure no single child is left behind during the upcoming immunisation campaign.
“The immunisation teams would be deployed to markets and boarders to ensure full coverage and to ensure no zero child is recorded.”
The UNICEF Kano Chief Field Officer, Mr. Rahama Rihood Farah said the media is critical stakeholder in Polio eradication in Nigeria.
Mr Farah, represented by Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, Health Manager, UNICEF Kano Field Office said, the Media Dialogue was to use media in raising awareness and mobilising parents, caregivers, communities, stakeholders, the public and everyone about the Polio Vaccination Campaign across Nigeria from April 24 to April 30, 2025.
He said the campaign also coincides with the World Immunization Week scheduled for the same period.
“Polio is a highly infectious disease with potentially deadly consequences for young children. It has been the leading cause of paralysis among children and can cause death,” he added.
The official said UNICEF said that In 2025, 18 cases of polio have been reported in 18 LGAs in nine states.
“Two (2) of these polio cases are in Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa state. This is unacceptable and must be halted!
“Polio knows no boundaries and spreads fast – an outbreak in any country puts children in every country at risk,” Farah said.
He urged Jigawa State government to declares a State of Emergency on Polio and Routine Immunization including a commitment to release State Counterpart funding for polio and routine Immunization.
Farah also urged the 27 local government councils chairmen in the state to make similar commitments, and conduct flag-offs of the upcoming polio vaccination campaign and commit to releasing counterpart funding.
He appealed to traditional and religious leaders for more action to control non-compliance resolution and make public commitments and mobilize communities to vaccinate all eligible children to eradicate polio.
The UNICEF chief tasked the media to amplify the advocacy and mobilize parents and caregivers to bring out their children massively for the polio vaccination.
