Polio Immunization: Jigawa, UNICEF Target 1.9 Million Children
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is set to immunize at least 1.9 million children during the 2025 polio vaccination exercise.
Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim, the State Programme Manager and Coordinator of the State Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre (SERICC), disclosed this during a media dialogue on Polio and Routine Immunization held Thursday at Tahir Hotel, Dutse.
He said the immunization campaign is scheduled to hold from April 26 to 29, 2025, across all 287 political wards in the state’s 27 local government areas.
According to him, this year’s campaign adopts the “Identify, Enumerate, and Vaccinate” (IEV) strategy to ensure all households are reached and no child is left behind.
He added that stakeholders such as parents, caregivers, traditional leaders, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been fully engaged to support the campaign’s success and ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Rahma Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano, represented by Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, Health Manager, UNICEF Kano Field Office, commended the media for their consistent support of child-related health initiatives.
He noted that the media dialogue was convened to enlist the media’s help in raising awareness and mobilizing parents, caregivers, and communities for the polio campaign taking place from April 24 to 30, 2025.
Farah emphasized that the campaign coincides with World Immunization Week, urging media outlets to leverage their platforms to encourage mass participation and vaccine acceptance.
“In 2025, Nigeria has recorded 18 cases of polio in 18 LGAs across nine states. Sadly, two of these cases occurred in Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa. This is unacceptable and must be stopped,” he said.
He stressed the urgency of action, stating, “Polio knows no boundaries and spreads fast. An outbreak in one country endangers children everywhere.” He further noted that vaccines have saved 154 million lives in the last 50 years—equivalent to six lives every minute.
UNICEF, he concluded, urges Jigawa and other states to intensify efforts to stop polio outbreaks and ensure that all children receive polio and other life-saving vaccines.
