Kano Gov’t Launches Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign, Targets 7.6m Children
By Mustapha Salisu
The Kano State Government has launched a statewide Measles-Rubella (MR) Integrated Vaccination Campaign aimed at protecting over 7.8 million children aged between nine months and 14 years across the 44 local government areas.
Speaking during a press briefing today which was supported by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) and EngenderHealth-led consortium partners at the Kano State Emergency Operations Centre, Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, revealed that the campaign which runs from October 6 to 16, 2025, is part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen public health and immunization coverage.
He described the exercise as a milestone in the state’s collective mission to safeguard the health and future of citizens, particularly children and mothers.
Dr. Yusuf explained that rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection that, while mild in children, can cause severe complications in pregnant women, including Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which leads to heart defects, hearing loss, and developmental disabilities in infants.
He noted that introducing the MR vaccine into the state’s routine immunization program aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) African Regional target of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome by 2030.
Adding that integrating MR vaccination with the ongoing Polio and Routine Immunization services demonstrates Kano’s commitment to efficient healthcare delivery, ensuring that multiple lifesaving interventions are provided in a single outreach.
The Commissioner commended the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and development partners including the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA, WHO, UNICEF, AFENET, Gates Foundation, and others for their technical and financial support.
He also called on parents and caregivers to bring their children for vaccination, emphasizing that the vaccines are safe, free, and essential to building a healthy generation.
PRIME TIME NEWS correspondent reports that Shortly after the press briefing, a flag-off exercise of the campaign was performed at Tofa Local Government Area, symbolizing the official commencement of the vaccination drive across the state.
Speaking during the launch, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, described the exercise as a historic and life-saving initiative, which is the first of its kind in the African region as the campaign reflects the government’s determination to safeguard the health and well-being of every child in Kano.
Represented by his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Governor Yusuf explained that the campaign is termed integrated because it brings together several health interventions, including vaccinations against Measles, Rubella, Polio, and HPV, as well as mass drug administration for Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
He revealed that the Tofa Comprehensive Health Centre has been upgraded to a full Secondary Health Facility, with N250 million earmarked for its development. Similar projects, he said, are ongoing across all 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State.
Governor Yusuf concluded by appreciating development partners and stakeholders for their continued support and prayed for the success of the campaign, the well-being of Kano’s children, and the prosperity of the state and the nation.
