Kano Targets 3.9m Children In 4th Round Of Polio Campaign

The Kano State government has set a target to vacinate 3,928,313 children aged 0–5 years in the fourth round of the November 2025 Polio Vaccination Campaign scheduled to commence on Saturday, November 29.

Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Board, Prof. Salisu Ahmad, disclosed this during a media dialogue organised by the Board in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners. He said the campaign would run for four days, using a house-to-house strategy complemented by fixed posts at mosques, churches, markets, streets, and health facilities.

Represented by the Board’s Social Behavioural Change Officer, Nasir Kabir, the DG said the state aimed to sustain gains recorded in reducing circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2).

“We are targeting children from birth to 59 months. The media played a vital role in achieving previous success and remains crucial in eliminating the remaining variant,” he said.

He added that the campaign would integrate other routine immunisation services, including HPV vaccines, vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets, and nutrition support for mothers and pregnant women.

Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Farah, commended the state for reducing polio cases by over 80% compared to 2024. He noted that Kano, one of 21 priority states, will campaign across all 44 LGAs and 484 wards, targeting a minimum of 95% coverage.

According to him, “Kano has made remarkable progress with only three confirmed cases this year, down from 17 affected LGAs in 2024.”

Farah emphasised the need for intensified community mobilisation, stating that radio remains vital for reaching remote communities. He said Nigeria aims to achieve zero case count by December 2025, warning that lapses could allow the virus to return.

He further revealed that the state has deployed 3,300 health workers, 870 non-compliance resolution team members, and over 6,723 vaccination teams, with additional special teams assigned to overcrowded areas.

Also speaking, NPHCDA North-West Zonal Director, Dr. Kabiru Mohammed, represented by State Coordinator, Maryam Umar, urged social and youth influencers to counter misinformation and encourage caregivers to present their children for vaccination. She said persistent myths continue to endanger children despite significant progress.

The November campaign, she added, offers another opportunity to close immunity gaps and ensure no child is left behind.