The Jigawa State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is set to immunize approximately 1.9 million children against polio from April 24 to 30, 2025.
The immunisation exercise will cover all 27 local government areas of the state.
The Executive Secretary of Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr. Shehu Sambo, represented by Dr. Shehu Ibrahim, Programme Manager, State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (SERICC), disclosed this during a media dialogue on polio and routine immunization in Dutse.
Dr. Ibrahim expressed concern over non-compliance and politicization of polio vaccination, which has led to some children missing out on the vaccine. He noted that seven children were missed in Garki, Kaugama, and Maigatari Local Government Areas during the February 2025 immunization exercise.
The state government has introduced measures to ensure no single child is left behind during the upcoming immunization campaign. Immunisation teams will be deployed to markets and borders to ensure full coverage.
UNICEF Kano Chief Field Office, Mr. Rahama Rihood Farah, represented by Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, emphasized the critical role of media in raising awareness and mobilizing communities to support the polio vaccination campaign. He urged traditional and religious leaders to promote compliance and mobilize communities to vaccinate all eligible children.
Notably, two polio cases were reported in Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa state in 2025. UNICEF has called on the Jigawa State government to declare a state of emergency on polio and routine immunization and release counterpart funding.
The polio vaccination campaign coincides with World Immunisation Week, scheduled for the same period. UNICEF urges parents and caregivers to bring out their children for vaccination during the campaign to protect them from this highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and death.
