Jigawa targets over 1.5 million children in polio vaccination campaign

The Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA) has set a target of vaccinating more than 1.5 million children under five during the forthcoming polio immunisation exercise across the state.

Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Shehu Sambo, announced this during the Jigawa State Media Dialogue on the November Polio Vaccination Campaign held at Mtown Hotel, Dutse.

He said 1,516,244 children are expected to receive polio vaccines across 287 political wards in all 27 local government areas.

The campaign is scheduled to run from November 27 to 30, employing fixed posts and mobile vaccination teams to ensure maximum coverage.

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In his remarks, Rahama Rihood M. Farah, Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, commended Jigawa for recording a 58% reduction in cVPV2 cases, dropping from 12 in 2024 to five this year.

He called for heightened preparedness as the state joins the national vaccination campaign from November 29 to December 2, targeting 42 million children across 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with Jigawa contributing over 1.5 million children.

Farah, however, cautioned that polio remains a concern, with 72 cases reported in 14 states so far in 2025. To strengthen coverage, Jigawa has deployed 3,060 house-to-house teams, 548 special teams, 1,500 trained health workers, and thousands of community mobilisers, while routine immunisation services will also be scaled up during the campaign.

He urged local government chairmen to provide strong oversight and appealed to the media to mobilise parents for full participation, stressing that polio vaccines are free, safe, and effective. Farah called on all stakeholders to join efforts in ending polio transmission in Jigawa and across Nigeria.