Kano Government Targets Zero-Dose Children At African Vaccination Week

Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reaching “zero-dose” children as it joins the rest of the continent to commemorate the 2026 Africa Vaccination Week (AVW).

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Kano on Tuesday, ahead of the week-long exercise.

He said the state is focusing on children aged zero to 23 months who have not received routine immunisation, noting that targeted interventions are being deployed to close existing gaps.

According to him, the theme for this year’s campaign, “For every generation, vaccines work,” highlights the importance of sustained immunisation across all age groups and the need to build public confidence in vaccines.

“We are focusing on reaching zero-dose children through accelerated catch-up initiatives, while strengthening routine immunisation to build a resilient health system,” Yusuf said.

The commissioner explained that Kano would implement an integrated healthcare service delivery approach during the exercise, combining immunisation with other essential health services.

He listed these to include deworming, antenatal care, family planning, nutrition screening, diarrhoea and malaria treatment, HIV counselling, as well as breastfeeding support.

“We are breaking the silos of care to serve the whole person and ensure no child is left behind,” he added.

Yusuf also announced the flag-off of a statewide rally and health walk to mark the event, with the participation of traditional and religious leaders, as well as polio survivors, to strengthen community mobilisation.

He further revealed that a dedicated data management tool has been deployed across all 44 local government areas to ensure real-time monitoring of vaccination activities.

“We will track every dose given, every child reached and every service delivered to ensure accountability and improved outcomes,” he said.

The commissioner commended development partners, including GAVI, WHO and UNICEF, for their support, while noting that the state government has demonstrated strong political will by committing resources to the exercise.

He urged local government chairmen, health workers and community mobilisers to ensure effective implementation, and called on the media to intensify public awareness.

Yusuf stressed that the success of the exercise would be measured by improved immunisation coverage, accurate data reporting and increased community participation across the state.