The global fight against poliomyelitis gained fresh momentum on Thursday as UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Kano State Government reaffirmed their joint commitment to wiping out the disease from Nigeria once and for all.
At the 2025 World Polio Day Commemoration and Town Hall Meeting held at Northwest University, Kano, key stakeholders called for sustained investment in immunization, stronger surveillance systems, and renewed community participation to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Farah, said the organisation remained steadfast in its mission to secure a polio-free future for every child. He acknowledged that while tremendous progress had been made globally and in Nigeria, children in vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities were still at risk.
“Polio eradication is within our reach, but success depends on our collective resolve to sustain the momentum,” Farah said. He urged governments and partners to maintain political commitment, expand routine immunization, and intensify efforts to prevent new outbreaks.
WHO State Coordinator, Dr. Mayana Sanusi, highlighted that this year’s theme, “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere” , reflects a moral duty to protect all children. He commended Kano State for recording a dramatic 96 percent drop in polio cases, from 31 in 2024 to just three in 2025.
“This progress is a result of high-quality vaccination campaigns, stronger surveillance, and unwavering community engagement,” Sanusi said, while praising health workers, local leaders, and global partners such as the Gates Foundation, Rotary International, CDC, and USAID for their ongoing support.
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“With our partners’ support, we are working tirelessly to make Kano completely polio-free and protect all children from this preventable disease,” he said.
The event brought together government officials, development partners, and community leaders, including Ward Development Committee chairmen, who were recognized for mobilizing caregivers for child immunization. Awards were presented to partners in appreciation of their contributions to the state’s public health milestones.
