Writing by Khadija Aliyu;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
Kano State will in October roll out an integrated vaccination campaign targeting more than 7.8 million children aged 9 months to 14 years against measles, rubella, and polio.
The announcement was made during a media dialogue on sensitization and mobilization, organized by the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board (SPHCMB) in partnership with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and global polio eradication partners held in Kano.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of SPHCMB, Professor Salisu Ibrahim, described the upcoming exercise as the largest vaccination campaign in West Africa, reaching millions of children across Nigeria.
Represented by the Director of Immunization and Disease Control, Dr. Ahmad Tijjani, the DG explained that the campaign will combine several health interventions, including Routine Immunization for children aged 0–23 months,Polio vaccination for more than 3 million children under five.
Dr. Tijjani emphasized that the media engagement was aimed at building awareness on the importance and scale of the exercise.
He noted that, despite ongoing routine immunization, measles and rubella remain significant health threats to children, highlighting the need for a more intensive campaign.
Dr. Ahmad Tijjani stressed that the media engagement was designed to deepen understanding of the scale and significance of the campaign.
“despite ongoing routine immunization, measles and rubella continue to pose risks to children, hence the need for a more comprehensive approach”he said.
Also speaking, the NPHCDA State Coordinator, Maryam Umar, emphasized that collective responsibility is key to ensuring all eligible children receive the vaccines.
She called on parents and caregivers to support the campaign by bringing their children for immunization, while urging the media to help dispel myths and misinformation about vaccines.
In a remark, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kano, Mr. Rahma Rihood Mohammed Farah, highlighted extensive visibility and publicity support provided by partners for the campaign.
He maintained that 3,300 health workers have been trained on improved Interpersonal Communication Skills, in addition to 870 members of Non-Compliance Resolution Teams (NCRTs) to address vaccine hesitancy.
The integrated campaign is planned and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA, Kano State Government, UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Civil Society Organizations.
The session,which drew participants from broadcast, print, and online media, urged journalists to step up efforts in spreading accurate information and mobilizing communities ahead of the integrated Measles, Rubella, and Polio vaccination campaign in Kano State.
Cov/Khadijah Aliyu.
