Writing By Ismai’l Adamu; Editing By Godwin Duru
At least 4.8 million children are targeted for immunization against measles rubella and polio in Katsina State as part of the nationwide integrated vaccination campaign scheduled for next month.
The Chief of Kano Field Office of UNICEF, Mr. Rahama Farah, announced this at a media dialogue and sensitization for social media influencers held in Katsina as part of preparations for the upcoming vaccination exercise.
He explained that the measles rubella vaccines will be administered on children between 9 months and 14 years while the polio vaccine will be administered on children under the age of five.
Mr. Farah noted that 2,253 teams will be deployed to various communities across the state to carry out the house-to-house vaccination exercise from the 6th to the 13th of October.
“Katsina State has been provided with 3.69 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines targeting 2.3 million children under five years of age, who will be vaccinated through Directly Observed Oral Polio Vaccination.
“In this campaign, a total of 4.8 million children aged 9 months to 14 years will be vaccinated against Rubella Measles while total of 2,253 teams will be deployed to administer the vaccine using fixed and temporary post strategies from October 4 to 13, 2025” Farah said.
He pointed out that UNICEF has supported the training of 3,300 health workers on improved skills and another 600 to serve in the Non-Compliance Resolution Teams.
The UNICEF Kano Chief said the teams comprise community and traditional leaders that will lend their voices in resolving cases of non-compliance which is a major factor that militates against successful vaccinations.
“Katsina State, with UNICEF’s support, has deployed six state facilitators, 21 LGA facilitators, 462 Voluntary Ward Supervisors, and 4,647 Voluntary Community Mobilizers to support the October MR campaign”, Farah noted while urging government and stakeholders to work towards the success of the exercise.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsuddeen Yahaya, said the agency has been engaged in sensitization campaigns to dispel misinformation regarding polio immunization which leads to vaccine hesitancy among communities.
Isma’il Adamu
