By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
United Nations Children’s Fund in collaboration with national primary healthcare Development Agency have allocated 4.6 million doses of polio vaccine and 7.8 million children between 9-14 years to be vaccinate with measles Rubella Vaccine in the state.
The chief of UNICEF field Office Kano Mr Rahama Rihood Muhammad Farah stated this at a Media Dialogue, orientation and mobilization session on Measles Rubella, Polio vaccination campaign in the state.
He said the objective of this session is for the partners to share information with participants on the upcoming integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign scheduled for October 25.
“Our gathering here today highlights the crucial role the media plays in our collaboration to ensure the well-being of children.
It is important to highlight that the upcoming integrated campaign is planned and implemented collaboratively by partners including, the Federal Ministry of Health; the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency; WHO; Gavi; the Gates Foundation, Civil Society Organization, UNICEF and the Kano State Government,” He said.
According to Dr Rahma Rihood Nigeria has planned to implement Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign integrated with Polio in all 36 states in two phases starting from 6th October 2025 till 16th February 2026.
Kano State falls under Phase One of the Campaign which will be implemented in 21 states in two streams.
Adding that the phase 1, stream 1, holds from 6th October to 17th October 2025.
This year, between August and September, Kano State implemented two In- between Round Activities (IBRA) targeting 354,173 children under five years of age in 3,223 settlements from 125 wards across 44 LGAs achieving 82% and 98% coverage respectively by E Tally data.
“The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency with the support of UNICEF has allocated 3,347 teams, provided 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of (bOPV) targeting 3.9 million children under five years age in the state for the October polio vaccination campaign.
A total of 7.8 million children from 9 months to 14 years of age will be vaccinated with Measles-Rubella vaccines in Kano state.” The UNICEF field officer added
Dr Rahma Rihood further said the campaign will be implemented using a fixed, temporary post and sweep teams strategy.
Each Measles-Rubella team comprises 11 team members having two members in every sweep team for polio vaccination, adding that
to support the cold chain and vaccines management system 3 VSLs, 44 LGAs Vaccines Accountability Officers (VAOs) and 684 Ward Vaccines Accountability Officers have been rained and deployed in the state in support the integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign.
He said For the success and visibility of the integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign , the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, with the support of UNICEF, has provided below to Kano state:
• 88 publicity banners, 3,347 vaccination post banners, 1056 posters, 44,000 key messages for caregivers, 13,200 FAQs for health workers, 1,320 Christian sermon guides, 30,380 Muslim sermon guides, 8,800 key messages for local influencers, 880 key messages for media and 176 general banners.
• Training of 3,300 health workers on improved Interpersonal (IPC) Communication Skills, including the training of 870 Non-Compliance Resolution Teams (NCRTs) members.
• A total of 290 NCRTs (each team comprises a community influencer, traditional leader and vaccinator) will be deployed to convert/resolve noncompliance cases during intra campaign phases on real time basis in Kano.
• From the VCMs Network, has deployed 8 state facilitators, 44 LGAs facilitators, 486 voluntary ward supervisors (VWSs), 385 Polio Survivor Groups (PSGs) and 4,864 voluntary community mobilizers (VCMs) in support of the campaign.
” While we acknowledge the progress made possible by the Government and partners, our goal of halting the circulation of the polio virus in Kano State is yet to be attained. Kano has reported 3 cases of a variant of polio virus (cVPV2) so far in 2025, one each from Warawa, Bunkure and Nassarawa LGAs compared to 31 cVPV2 cases from 17 LGAs in 2024.
With only two months until December, the agreed date for achieving this goal.” He added
The UNICEF also calls on the Kano State Government to implement the following:
• State/LGAs Flag offs to be conducted and counterpart funds released to LGAs on time.
• LGAs chairmen to personally oversee the pre, intra and post campaign phases and be regularly chairing the evening review meetings during the campaign.
• LGAs Teams to intensify the supervision for the quality implementation of campaign.
He also urged the state to use 400 MP3 Bluetooth Speakers with pre-loaded USB discs provided by UNICEF for social mobilization and to be retained according to SOPs.
In his keynote address, the Director General Kano state primary healthcare management Board Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim said the meeting is part of the preparation for the forthcoming October 2025 Measles Rubella, Polio vaccination Campaign across the state.
The Director General Represented by the Director Diseases control and Immunization of the Board Dr Ahmad Tijjani Habib said the integration is measles Rubella Routine immunization including HPV vaccine, Polio and NTD.
” The reason for this integration is to increase efficiency, save cost and also reduce the Burden of of numerous campaign for the public.” DG added
According to professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim during the campaign for 0 -25 months children for Routine immunization, measles Rubella is for 9-14 years while Polio is for children under five and for NTD in 6 local government areas of the state targeting children under five.
Speaking earlier, the representative from the National Primary healthcare Development Agency Maryam H Umar described media as partner in progress in mobilizing the community in any national issues.
“Together we can protect children from Measles Rubella, Polio and strengthening the community immunity,” NPHCDA added.
