The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Jigawa State and Nigeria in eradicating polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, gave the assurance during the official flag-off of the October 2025 Integrated Polio and Measles-Rubella (MR) Campaign held at Gantsa Ward in Buji Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Mr. Farah commended the strong leadership of Governor Umar Namadi and the dedication of Local Government Chairmen, health workers, and community leaders in sustaining immunization coverage across the state.
He said Jigawa has become a priority state for health interventions, stressing that the state’s efforts are vital not only for its children but also for the global goal of polio eradication.
According to him, the October 2025 integrated campaign is being implemented across all 288 wards and 27 Local Government Areas of Jigawa State.
He disclosed that over two million children under the age of five will be immunized with 1.8 million doses each of the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2) and Bi-valent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV).
Similarly, more than three million children aged nine months to fourteen years are expected to receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine during the campaign.
Mr. Farah revealed that 1,580 vaccination teams, 1,500 health workers, and 264 Non-Compliance Resolution Teams have been trained and deployed to ensure full coverage and resolve any resistance to the exercise.
He said each Non-Compliance Team, made up of community influencers, traditional leaders, and vaccinators, will operate in real time across all wards to ensure that no child is left out.
UNICEF, he added, has also supported the deployment of four state facilitators, 18 LGA facilitators, 288 Voluntary Ward Supervisors, 74 Polio Survivor Groups, and 4,880 Voluntary Community Mobilizers for the campaign.
While noting a reduction in cases of variant poliovirus in the state from 12 cases in 2024 to 4 cases in 2025 Mr. Farah urged stakeholders not to relent but to intensify efforts to meet the eradication goal within the next two months.
He called on Local Government Chairmen to take the lead in ensuring that all children are reached and cases of noncompliance are swiftly addressed.
Mr. Farah emphasized that the target is to achieve not less than 95 percent immunization coverage across Jigawa State.
He assured the people of UNICEF’s continued partnership with the government and other stakeholders to provide technical support, engage communities, and deliver vaccines to the last mile.
Mr. Farah concluded by applauding the resilience of health workers, volunteers, and traditional leaders, expressing hope that the October campaign would mark a turning point in the fight to eradicate polio from Jigawa State and Nigeria.
Usman MZ
