The Kano State Government has appealed to parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive polio vaccinations, likening the vaccine to paracetamol used for treating headaches-safe, effective, and essential for health, with no link to religious or ethnic beliefs.
Speaking during the official flag-off of the second round of polio vaccination at the District Head’s Palace in Bankure Local Government Area, Deputy Governor Comrade Abdulsalam Aminu emphasized that the polio vaccine poses no religious or health risks. He called on residents to see immunization as a critical health necessity.
“Just like a headache or ulcer affects people regardless of religion or tribe, and we all take the same medication like Panadol without asking who produced it, the same applies to polio vaccines. Why then would anyone reject vaccines meant to protect children’s lives?” he questioned.
Comrade Aminu, who also serves as co-chairman of the state’s Polio Task Force Committee, urged all local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to play active roles in mobilizing communities for the vaccination campaign scheduled for June 14–17, 2025.
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He warned that local government officials who undermine the exercise would face sanctions, stressing that the fight against polio is a shared responsibility that must not be sabotaged.
The Deputy Governor also thanked donor agencies and development partners for their continued support and called for intensified efforts to ensure no child is left behind in the ongoing campaign to completely eradicate the virus.
In his goodwill message, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Rahama Farah, reaffirmed the organization’s support and urged all stakeholders to work collectively toward meeting the national deadline for polio eradication by December. He highlighted the importance of reaching the 3.9 million targeted children in Kano.
Representing the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Kabiru Yakassai praised Kano’s sustained commitment to public health. He noted that the state has not recorded any new polio cases in the last 14 weeks, a significant improvement from the start of the year
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The intensified campaign aims to build on that success and ensure Kano remains polio-free, setting a strong example for the rest of the country.
