The Kano State Government, in partnership with UNICEF and other stakeholders, says it has launched the second phase of its polio vaccination drive.
During a media chat on Thursday, it said the move aims to immunize 3.9 million children aged 0–5 years across all 44 local government areas of the state.
The house-to-house campaign runs from 14–18 June 2025.
The initiative supports Nigeria’s national goal to be polio-free by December 2025, with Kano aiming to meet the deadline. The state also plans to reduce maternal mortality within this timeframe.
Four cases of circulating vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 (cVDPV-2) have been recorded this year in Warawa, Bunkure, Kano Municipal, and Nasarawa local government areas.
In 2024, 31 cases were reported across 17 local government areas; therefore, this year’s lower number shows progress. However, the hotspots of Warawa, Kano Municipal, Bunkure, and Nasarawa local governments remain a serious concern.
Stakeholders have attributed primary barriers to include vaccine hesitancy, inaccurate data, security constraints, and missed children in certain communities, particularly in the Ungogo local government area.
The Director General of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, Nasiru Mahmoud, emphasized the leadership roles of local government chairmen, religious and traditional leaders in ensuring no child is left behind.
Meanwhile, the Chief of UNICEF Field, Kano Office, Rahama Farah, has called for a state of emergency declaration, release of counterpart funding, improved supervision, and robust media engagement to amplify accurate information and dispel fake news.
Kano’s second-phase polio immunization campaign is a decisive, targeted effort to curb polio virus type 2 cVDPV2 before the December 2025 deadline.
Despite challenges, hesitancy, data issues, and security, the coordinated strategy of community events, house-to-house outreach, strong leadership, and proactive media engagement is designed to reach every child in the state. (Agency Report)
