Kano State is targeting 4.1 million children under five years for polio vaccination in the next round of polio campaign commencing from April 24-30, 2025.
Director General, Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr. Nasiru Mahmoud, made this known at a media dialogue on polio and routine immunization held in Kano on Tuesday.
Represented by the State Immunization Officer, Hajiya Sa’adatu Ibrahim, Dr. Mahmoud, said polio is a vaccine preventable illness which can be taken care of through routine immunisation, supplementary and effective surveillance.
Mahmoud stated that in 2024, the state recorded 31 circulating variant poliovirus type 2 in 17 local government areas, while in 2025, three more cases have so far been recorded across Warawa, Bankure, and Nassarawa Local Government Areas.
The director general further pointed out that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency is committed to ensuring a new shift towards the total eradication of polio by the end of 2025, as such, there is need for a collaborative action between stakeholders as fundings is uncertain beyond 2025.
In his opening remarks, Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Rahma Farah, urged the state government to declare a state of emergency on polio and routine immunisation, taking urgent action to stop the outbreaks in the state.
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Represented by the Senior Education Manager and Officer-in-Charge of the field office, Micheal Banda, Farah, stressed the need to reach all children with polio and other life-saving vaccines, saying they are available, safe, and effective.
“Across the world, 3 billion people have been immunised against polio since 1988, bringing the disease to the brink of eradication. But the fight is not over, including in Nigeria, because low vaccination rates are creating opportunities for polio outbreaks, as we are seeing in Nigeria recently.
“In 2025, 18 cases of polio were reported in 18 local government areas in nine states of Nigeria. Three of these polio cases are in Warawa, Bunkure, and Nassarawa Local Government Areas of Kano State. This is unacceptable and must be halted,” he added.
Farah therefore tasked both the state and local governments to ensure the timely release of adequate counterpart funding for routine immunisation and polio vaccination campaigns as well as honour and implement all the commitments made publicly in Kaduna early this year to win the fight against polio.
Farah further sought for the support of the media to raise awareness on the upcoming polio vaccination and World Immunisation Week in order to reach the expected target for the vaccinations.