Katsina begins massive polio push as UNICEF leads drive to immunize 2.8 million children
By Fatima Mukhtar
Katsina State has commenced a statewide polio vaccination campaign targeting over 2.8 million children under the age of five, with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF urging the media, community leaders and parents to intensify support in ensuring complete coverage across all 361 wards.
Speaking at the media dialogue held at Albhustan Hotel, Katsina on Thursday, the Chief UNICEF Field Office, Mr. Rahama Mohammed Farah, commended Katsina State for its exceptional progress in polio control, reporting a 90 percent success rate and only two cases of paralysis recorded from Danmusa LGA.
He said UNICEF was pleased to return to Katsina for yet another round of media engagement, acknowledging the state’s commitment and the media’s continued contribution to public health campaigns.
Farah stressed that media participation remains central to the fight against polio, noting that journalists, broadcasters and social influencers play a vital role in shaping public understanding and encouraging parents to vaccinate their children.
He urged radio stations in particular to intensify their sensitisation messages, as they remain the most reliable channels for reaching remote communities with limited network access just as he further emphasised the importance of routine immunization, reminding parents that vaccines are available daily at all primary health centers.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano also highlighted the progress made under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), but warned that polio remains a borderless disease. “As long as a single case exists anywhere in the country, every state remains at risk”.
He called on Katsina to maintain at least 95 percent vaccination coverage and encouraged local government leaders to support mobilisation efforts and release funds promptly to ensure smooth implementation.
Representative of the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Mukhtar Mahmud reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safeguarding children’s health.
He announced that the campaign covers all 34 LGAs and includes services such as polio vaccination, routine immunization, azithromycin administration, vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets and maternal health support. He explained that door-to-door teams, fixed posts and mobile units have already been deployed to guarantee that every eligible child is reached.
Other development partners’ officials also appealed to mothers and caregivers to complete all vaccine doses for children from birth to 15 months, stressing that full immunization is the most effective way to eliminate polio in Katsina and across Nigeria.
They urged parents to embrace routine immunization beyond the campaign period and further encouraged local government authorities to strengthen mobilisation efforts and ensure parents receive clear messages that vaccination is safe and essential for child survival.
The organisation praised the state government and its development partners for investing in vaccination, training health workers and providing logistics support. More than 3,700 personnel are participating in the exercise, including 961 house-to-house teams and 993 special teams assigned to markets, motor parks and other high-density areas.
The event featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders who emphasised the urgency of sustaining the fight against polio. Among them were Ambassador Aminu Muhammad, National Consultant and State Polio Lead, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Katsina; Dr. Sulaiman Haladu of the Polio Emergency Programme; and other public health experts, all of whom called for sustained community cooperation to ensure no child is missed.
The campaign continues across the state, with vaccination teams already reaching remote settlements to guarantee full coverage.
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