By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
Kano state government has reassured its commitment to support immunization Exercise in the state.
The state commissioner for health Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf stated this during the flag off of April 2026 state National Plus Day’s SNIPDs campaign in the state.
He said this moment is not merely ceremonial, it is a renewed declaration of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and future of every child in our State.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf also said the Kano state government has recorded success with 93% in the March 2026 Polio immunization Exercise.
According to the commissioner the success is in line with the commitment of Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf in his leadership style to inspire bold actions in strengthening our healthcare system, ensuring that lifesaving interventions reach even the most remote communities.
“His consistent support, particularly in the timely provision of counterpart funding and strategic oversight, has been instrumental in sustaining our progress,” Dr. Labaran said.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf also acknowledged the tireless contributions of our Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, frontline health workers, and our invaluable development partners.
The commissioner further said Nigeria has sustained its status as a country free from Wild Poliovirus, a remarkable milestone that reflects years of coordinated effort. However, the presence of circulating variant poliovirus continues to pose a threat, reminding us that the fight is not yet over.
“Here in Kano State, we have recorded significant milestones. In 2025, only three cases were recorded, compared to thirty-one in 2024. This sharp decline is a testament to improved campaign quality, stronger accountability systems, and enhanced community engagement,” The commissioner added.
“It is in this spirit that we are launching the April 2026 Polio Immunization Campaign, scheduled to take place from 2nd to 5th May 2026 targeting over 3.7 children.This campaign will target all children aged 0 to 59 months across the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State,” He said.
The commissioner maintained that the Vaccination teams will move from house to house, ensuring that every eligible child is reached. Fixed posts will be established in strategic locations, and special mop-up activities will target high-risk and underserved communities.
“Our preparations have been meticulous. Through recent identification and enumeration exercise, over 33,000 settlements have been identified and validated, with more than 3.2 million children captured. These data-driven efforts have strengthened our planning and ensured that no community is overlooked,” Dr. Labaran added.
He further said Kano state government through state ministry for health have trained over 6,700 vaccination teams, equipped them with the necessary tools, and deployed them across the State, adding that Vaccines and logistics have been distributed, and the cold chain systems have been optimized to maintain vaccine potency.
The commissioner pointed out that Supervisory structures have also been reinforced to ensure quality implementation and real-time monitoring.
The commissioner also urged the participants to support for success of the campaign in bringing out all the children for the vaccination.
