The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering determination to eliminate the circulating variant of the polio virus within the state before the national deadline of December 2025.
This renewed commitment was made known during a media dialogue held on Thursday, where state officials and health partners outlined their collective strategies to combat the resurgence of the disease.
As part of a broad immunisation drive, the state, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners, has launched the second round of its polio vaccination campaign.
The current phase targets approximately 3.9 million children, all aged five years and below. This mass vaccination exercise commenced on June 12 in designated special areas under the Immunisation Plus Days initiative, where additional incentives are provided to encourage participation.
Dr. Nasiru Mahmoud, the Director General of the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, acknowledged several persistent challenges confronting the exercise. These include difficulties in accessing certain hard-to-reach communities, resistance from some families, and the issue of missed children during previous rounds.
Despite these obstacles, he assured that comprehensive measures are being implemented to ensure all stakeholders actively contribute to the success of the campaign.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Dr. Mahmoud emphasized that the high prevalence of the virus in the state is a cause for concern. To address this, the government has instructed all local government chairpersons, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to take proactive roles in mobilising their communities.
He reiterated that immunisation remains the most effective safeguard against preventable childhood diseases, including polio.
Echoing these concerns, the Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Mr. Rahama Farah, called on the state government to declare a state of emergency on polio. He warned that with less than six months remaining before the national eradication deadline, the urgency to act cannot be overstated.
Mr. Farah specifically urged Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to promptly mobilise and release all necessary resources to ensure the campaign’s success. He also reminded LGA chairpersons of the pledges they made during a previous stakeholder engagement in Kaduna, urging them to honour their commitments in full.
He further emphasized that polio is a vaccine-preventable disease and that the available vaccines are safe, free, and effective in protecting children from not only polio but also other life-threatening illnesses. However, he pointed out that misinformation, disinformation, and circulating myths continue to hamper vaccination efforts.
To combat this, Mr. Farah appealed to members of the media to take an active role in public enlightenment. He noted that accurate and consistent reporting can help dispel falsehoods and build public trust in the immunisation programme, thereby increasing uptake among hesitant families.