By Aisha Mukhtar Muhammad.
Katsina State has flagged off a statewide polio immunisation exercise aimed at vaccinating more than 2.8 million children under five, as UNICEF and Katsina state health authorities intensify efforts to maintain high immunity levels and prevent a resurgence of the virus.
The campaign, launched, brings together government officials, health workers and development partners in a coordinated effort to cover all 361 wards across the state.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Rahama Mohammed Farah, commended Katsina’s progress in polio control, noting a 90 percent vaccination performance and the recording of only two paralysis cases in Danmusa Local Government Area.
Farah praised the state’s consistent engagement with UNICEF and highlighted the critical role of media organisations in sustaining public awareness. He urged the to intensify sensitisation campaigns, especially for hard-to-reach communities where radio remains the primary source of information.
He further stressed the importance of routine immunisation, reminding parents that vaccines are available daily at primary healthcare centres.
Despite gains made under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Farah warned that polio remains a “borderless disease,” adding that a single case anywhere poses a risk to all states. He encouraged Katsina to maintain at least 95 percent coverage and called on local government councils to support mobilisation efforts and promptly release funds for smooth operations.
An official from the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr. Mukhtar Mahmud reaffirmed the state’s commitment to child health. He announced that the campaign covers all 34 LGAs and includes additional services such as routine vaccines, azithromycin administration, vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets and maternal health support.
He said multiple teams including door-to-door vaccinators, fixed-post workers and mobile units have been deployed to ensure that no eligible child is missed.
Other development partners also appealed to parents and caregivers to ensure their children complete all vaccine doses from birth to 15 months, stressing that full immunisation remains the most effective strategy to curb polio transmission.
They encouraged local authorities to strengthen community mobilisation and reassure parents of the safety and importance of vaccination.
The state government and partners were commended for investing in logistics, training and manpower. A total of over 3,700 personnel are participating in the exercise, including 961 house-to-house teams and 993 special teams assigned to markets, motor parks and high-density locations.
Goodwill messages from public health experts including Ambassador Aminu Muhammad, National Consultant and State Polio Lead at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Katsina, and Dr. Sulaiman Haladu of the Polio Emergency Programme emphasised the urgency of sustaining the fight until polio is completely eradicated.
Vaccination teams have already begun visiting remote settlements as the campaign continues across the state.
