Kano Gov’t Flags Off Polio Vaccination Campaign in Bunkure
By Mustapha Salisu
As part of efforts to eradicate the polio virus in Kano State by December, the state government has launched a polio vaccination campaign in Bunkure Local Government Area.
The campaign, tagged ‘June 2025 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs),’ was officially flagged off today by the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
Comrade Gwarzo expressed concern that Bunkure, which last year ranked second among LGAs with the lowest prevalence of polio in the state, has now unfortunately dropped to third from the bottom.
He therefore emphasized the urgent need for the LGA chairman, traditional rulers, and relevant stakeholders to rise to the challenge and redouble their efforts in the fight against polio.
The Deputy Governor, who also chairs the State Taskforce on Polio Immunization, appealed to parents to fully embrace the polio vaccine, stressing that the belief that the disease is caused by a spiritual force (“Inna”) that paralyzes children’s limbs is unfounded, as the actual cause is poor hygiene and sanitation.
He further urged people to reject the misconception that polio vaccines prevent fertility.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pharmacist Aminu Bashir, stated that this is the second round of the polio vaccination campaign in the state this year.
He revealed that there are 19 high-risk LGAs for polio in Nigeria, and Kano State accounts for three of them—Bunkure, Warawa, and the Kano Municipal area. This, he explained, is why the state government selected Bunkure as the launch site for the current campaign.
He added that in April this year, over 3.5 million children were vaccinated in Kano State using more than 4 million doses of the vaccine.
In his remarks, the Emir of Rano, represented by the Madakin of Rano, Alhaji Haddau Isa Rano, expressed gratitude to the Kano State Government for launching the vaccination campaign in Bunkure.
The Madakin conveyed the Emir’s greetings to the Deputy Governor and extended prayers for the safe return of Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf from his trip abroad.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Bunkure LGA, Aliyu Bashir Mahmud Barkum, thanked the Deputy Governor for once again visiting their area to launch the campaign.
He pledged that Bunkure would once again become one of the top-performing LGAs in terms of polio eradication, vowing to ensure the complete elimination of the virus in the area.
Speaking earlier, Tlthe Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, has described Kano as a critical state in Nigeria’s fight against polio.
He stated that successfully eradicating polio in Kano would pave the way for nationwide elimination of the virus.
Farah emphasized the effectiveness of the oral polio vaccine and stressed the need to reach every child under five.
He called for collective efforts in the June campaign targeting 3.9 million children, assuring that UNICEF will continue to support the state with technical and financial assistance.
