From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Jigawa State Government and the Chairmen of all 27 Local Government Areas to release their counterpart funding for polio and routine immunisation activities.
The call was made during a Media Dialogue on Polio and Routine Immunisation by Mr. Rahma Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano. He was represented by Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, Health Manager at the UNICEF Kano Field Office.
Farah also urged the Jigawa State Government to declare a State of Emergency on polio and routine immunisation, emphasizing the need for all LGA Chairmen, under the umbrella of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), to commit to supporting immunisation efforts. He called on them to conduct flag-offs for the upcoming polio vaccination campaign in their respective areas.
He further encouraged the local government leaders to supervise the immunisation campaign actively, participate in evening review meetings before the implementation phase, and engage in resolving cases of non-compliance.
UNICEF also appealed to traditional and religious leaders in Jigawa State to make public commitments and mobilize their communities to ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated.
“UNICEF urges the media to continue raising awareness about the importance of routine immunisation. If children are vaccinated routinely, we will not need emergency campaigns to address vaccine-preventable diseases,” Farah said.
He emphasized that to eradicate polio and similar diseases, Nigeria must strengthen its routine immunisation system. This includes full implementation of the “One Functional Primary Healthcare Centre per Ward” policy.
“If we strengthen our routine immunisation systems, we can achieve a future free from diseases like polio, cervical cancer, and measles — a future where no child dies from preventable illnesses,” he stated.
Farah also highlighted the global focus on human papillomavirus (HPV) during World Immunisation Week and called on Nigerian leaders to invest in HPV vaccination, which prevents cervical cancer.
“We can achieve a future free from vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, cervical cancer, and measles — because vaccines are available, safe, and effective,” he concluded.