Kano, UNICEF Launch Polio Vaccination Campaign To Raise Public Awareness

Kano and UNICEF Launch Historic Polio Vaccination Campaign to Raise Public Awareness

In a landmark public health initiative, the Kano State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other global health partners, has launched an integrated vaccination campaign aimed at eradicating polio and other preventable diseases among children.

This campaign, which began on October 6, 2025, and is scheduled to run through October 17, marks the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, targeting over 7.8 million children across Kano State.

The campaign integrates measles-rubella and polio vaccinations, along with routine immunizations for hepatitis and HPV, and treatments for neglected tropical diseases such as onchocerciasis. Children aged 9 months to 14 years are being vaccinated against measles-rubella, while those under five are receiving polio vaccines. Infants between 0 and 23 months are also included in the routine immunization efforts.

The initiative is designed to streamline health services, reduce the burden of multiple campaigns, and deliver a comprehensive health package in a single outreach.

Speaking at a media dialogue in Kano, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani, Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, described the campaign as historic and transformative. He emphasized the importance of media involvement in sensitizing the public and ensuring maximum coverage.

The campaign has mobilized 3,347 vaccination teams and deployed 4.6 million doses of novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV), with support from UNICEF and other partners.

Rahama Rihood M. Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano, highlighted the urgency of halting the transmission of the variant polio virus (cVPV2), which has seen a significant reduction in cases, from 31 in 2024 to just three in 2025. Farah stressed the importance of government leadership, urging local government chairpersons to personally oversee campaign phases and ensure rigorous supervision.

UNICEF has also provided 400 MP3 Bluetooth speakers with pre-loaded messages for community mobilization, alongside cold chain support and vaccine accountability officers across all 44 local government areas.

The campaign is part of a national effort to vaccinate 106 million children across Nigeria in two phases, with Kano included in Phase One. The strategy involves fixed posts, temporary posts, and sweep teams to reach every eligible child.

The media has been called upon to play a pivotal role in dispelling myths, promoting vaccine uptake, and guiding caregivers on accessing these free and effective vaccines.

As the campaign progresses, stakeholders remain committed to achieving full eradication of polio in Kano by December 2025.

The initiative stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between government bodies, international organizations, and civil society in safeguarding the health of future generations.