Kano targets 3.9m children in June polio vaccination campaign

The Kano State government has launched an ambitious campaign to vaccinate 3.9 million children under the age of five as part of its June 2025 Outbreak Response (OBR) effort to combat polio.

Dr. Nasir Mahmoud, Director-General of the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, announced the initiative during a media dialogue on Thursday.

He stated that the campaign aligns with Nigeria’s national strategy to sustain its polio-free status, especially in light of a recent resurgence of type 2 poliovirus in parts of the state.

According to Dr. Mahmoud, challenges such as community resistance, insecurity, and inadequate data reporting have hindered previous immunization drives, leading to the virus’s re-emergence.

Ungogo Local Government Area, he noted, recorded the highest level of non-compliance during the May 2025 vaccination round.

“To boost coverage, local governments are now ranked monthly based on their performance,” Mahmoud said, adding that the state remains committed to eradicating polio by December 2025 and reducing maternal mortality as a parallel priority.

He emphasized the importance of working closely with traditional rulers and local government chairmen across all 44 LGAs to ensure success.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Rahma Mohammed, Chief of UNICEF’s Field Office in Kano, revealed that surveillance in 2025 had detected poliovirus in Warawa, Bunkure, Kano Municipal, and Nasarawa LGAs.

“This is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately,” Mohammed warned.

“Polio is a highly contagious disease that can spread rapidly and knows no borders.”

He stressed that a single case poses a threat to all children and urged for unified, aggressive action. Mohammed called on the government to declare a public health emergency, release counterpart funding promptly, and intensify efforts to counter misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, especially in high-risk communities.

He reaffirmed UNICEF’s continued support for Nigeria’s polio eradication efforts, urging stronger supervision of immunization campaigns and increased media engagement.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease that mainly affects children under five. It spreads primarily through contaminated water or food and, less commonly, via respiratory droplets.

Though preventable through vaccination, low immunization coverage leaves many communities vulnerable.

Most infected individuals show no symptoms, making the virus difficult to track and contain.

The June campaign is part of an intensified national push to stamp out the virus for good.