By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
2025 World Polio Day; 3b People Are Immunized Against Polio Globally – UNICEF
UNICEF field officer Kano state Dr Rahma Rihood Mohamed Farah has described media as partner in progress in Polio eradication.
Dr. Rahma Rihood Mohamed Farah stated this during media Dialogue on polio and Routine immunization as well as 2025 world Polio Day.
Dr. Farah represented by a senior education manager in-charge of UNICEF field office Kano Dr Michael Banda
said UNICEF in collaboration with the Kano State Government through the Primary Health Care Management Board has convened this Media Dialogue to solicit media support in raising awareness and mobilizing parents, caregivers, communities, stakeholders, the public and every one of the Polio Vaccination Campaign which Nigeria has scheduled to implement from 24-30 April 2025. This Campaign also coincides with the World Immunization Week scheduled for the same period.
According to the UNICEF across the world, 3 billion people have been immunized against polio since
1988, bringing the disease to the brink of eradication. But the fight is not over,
including in Nigeria, because low vaccination rates are creating opportunities for polio outbreaks as we are seeing in Nigeria recently.
He said, In 2025, 18 cases of polio have been reported in 18 LGAs in nine (9) states of Nigeria. Three of these polio cases are in Warawa, Bunkure and Nassarawa LGAs of Kano State. This is unacceptable and must be halted.
The UNICEF field office further said Media must regularly disseminate through their platforms accurate information to help fight myths, disinformation and rumors which misinform and discourage people from taking opportunities to vaccinate children.
“In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives – that is six
people every minute, for five decades. Together, we have made incredible
progress. Simply by being immunized, you help to protect others from the spread of disease, just as they help to protect you.”
“We can stop outbreaks and eradicate polio. Ending polio and improving children’s survival starts with making sure all
children have access to vaccines,” He added.
He requested Government of Kano State declares a State of Emergency on Polio
and Routine Immunization including a commitment to timely release of
adequate State Counterpart funding for Routine Immunization and polio
vaccination campaigns.
To ensure fully Polio eradication , the UNICEF field officer urged all Local Government Chairmen in the state to conduct flag-offs of the upcoming
polio vaccination campaign in their respective LGAS, supervise the
campaign along with their LGA Council, as well as participate in pre-
implementation and evening Review Meetings, and engage in non-
compliance resolution.
Dr. Rahma Rihood called on LGA Chairmen/Chairperson in Kano Sate to
honour and implement all the commitments they made publicly in Kaduna early this year.
• Traditional and religious leaders in Kano State make public commitments to halting polio outbreaks and to mobilize communities to vaccinate all eligible children and eradicate polio.
“To eradicate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, Nigeria must
strengthen its Routine Immunization efforts. This requires ful implementation
of the One functional Primary Healthcare Centre per ward Policy,” He added.
He urges the media to further help raise awareness of the importance of
Routine Immunization. If children get vaccinated routinely, there will be no
need for vaccination campaigns to deal with vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to UNICEF field officer if Nigeria strengthens her Routine Immunization, Nigeria can realize a future free from diseases like polio, cervical cancer and measles. A future where no child dies from illnesses that we know how to prevent.
“As the global community is focusing attention on human papillomavirus
during the World Immunization Week, UNICEF urges the government and
decision makers in Nigeria to also focus attention on and invest in vaccination
against the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.”
We can realize a future free from vaccine-preventable diseases like polio,
cervical cancer and measles. A future where no child dies from illnesses that
we know how to prevent – because Vaccines are available, safe and effective,” Dr Rihood added.
In his speech, the Director General Kano state primary health care management Board Dr Nasir Mahmud represented by the Director Diseases control of the Board Dr Sharif Yahaya Musa reiterated assured all their support and commitment for Routine immunization across the state.
In her paper presentation, the state immunization officer Hajiya Sa’adatu Ibrahim highlighted Three strategic ways in eradication of polio which includes Routine immunization, supplementary immunization activities and the Polio surveillance.
The state immunization officer further said during the routine immunization Exercise from 24th April 2025 over 4.1 million children under five years are expected to immunize across 44 local government areas in the state.
Speaking earlier, Kano state EOC incident Manager Dr Abdullahi Sa’ad said Kano state government through its task force committee on polio under state deputy Governor Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo is working tiredly to end the Polio in the state by the end of June 2025.
