Writing By Ismai’l Adamu ; Editing By Godwin Duru
Stakeholders in the eradication of polio in Katsina State have been urged to sustain their commitment to build on the gains recorded in the fight against the spread of the virus between 2024 and 2025.
The Katsina State First Lady, Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko Radda made the call at an event in Katsina to mark the 2025 World Polio Day with the theme ‘End Polio: Every Vaccine, Every Child, Everywhere’, organized by her office in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Speaking against the backdrop of the reduction in number of new polio cases, from 17 in eight local government areas last year to two cases in one local government area this year, Hajia Radda called for collective action to build on these gains.
“As of October 2024, the World Health Organization confirmed 134 new cases across seven African countries and Nigeria remains at the forefront of this challenge, with over 70 reported cases, in 14 states and 46 Local Government Areas.
“Last year, Katsina State became the epicentre of transmission, we recorded 17 cases. This year two cases have emerged from Danmusa Local Government Area. The children who are affected by this virus also deserve to run, to play, to grow up free from preventable suffering.
“On this World Polio Day, let us renew our promise that no child will be left behind, that no life will be lost to preventable diseases, and that the dream of a polio-free world will be our reality.”
The First Lady who described the prevalence of the polio virus type 2 (cVPV2) as “dangerous”, called for collective action by communities, local governments, development partners, donor agencies and traditional and religious leaders to eradicate polio.
“As the world unites to observe World Polio Day, we are reminded that our shared fight against this crippling disease is still a pressing reality for many communities in Nigeria and especially here in Katsina State.
“I charge mothers and fathers, take your children to the health centres to be vaccinated, and give them the gift of a future that they deserve.
“To our religious and traditional leaders, your words shape hearts and minds. Use your influence to heal, encourage your members to do the right thing for the future of our children”, she stressed.
On his part, the Chief of Kano Field Office of UNICEF, Mr. Rahama Farah, explained that though remarkable progress has been made globally and in Nigeria, children remain vulnerable, and poliovirus outbreaks threaten decades of achievements.
He noted the progress so far made in the fight against polio in Katsina State where the number of polio cases has “dropped significantly, from 17 cases across eight local government areas in 2024 to just two cases in 2025 in Danmusa Local Government Area”.
Describing this achievement as “a testament to the power of coordinated action”, Farah pointed out that “transmission has not been fully interrupted therefore the fight is not over” as he urged stakeholders to double their efforts until the war against polio is won.
“Now is certainly not the time to step back, the final steps toward eradication are the most critical and the most challenging. Complacency now risks reversing decades of progress. Pausing or scaling back efforts would expose vulnerable communities to resurgence.
While stressing that “the cost of inaction far outweighs the investment needed to finish this vital work”, Farah called for “political commitment, high-quality vaccination campaigns, and unwavering community engagement to stop the spread of polio.
Isma’il Adamu
