By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
Kano State Government, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other development agencies have entered into a partnership to vaccinate 3,928,313 children aged 0–5 years in the fourth round of the November 2025 Polio Vaccination Campaign in the state.
This was disclosed by the Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Board (KSPHCDB), Prof. Salisu Ahmad, during a media dialogue organized in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners.
According to him, the campaign will run for four days starting from Saturday, November 29, 2025.
He said the vaccination will take the form of a house-to-house strategy, complemented by fixed posts at mosques, churches, markets, streets, and health facilities across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Director-General, who spoke through the Board’s Social Behavioural Change Officer, Nasir Kabir, said the campaign aims to sustain gains in reducing circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) across the state.
According to him, “it will also integrate other routine immunisation services, including HPV vaccines, vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets, and nutrition support for mothers and pregnant women.”
Speaking during the media dialogue, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Mr. Rahama Farah Mohammed, commended Kano State for reducing polio cases by over 80 per cent in 2025.
Farah described Kano as one of 21 priority states, adding that the campaign will be carried out across all the 44 Local Government Areas and 484 wards, targeting a minimum of 95 per cent coverage.
“Kano has made remarkable progress with only three confirmed cases this year, down from 17 affected Local Government Areas in 2024,” he added.
Farah further noted the importance of intensified community mobilisation, highlighting radio as a key tool for reaching remote communities.
The UNICEF Chief, however, warned that “lapses in vaccination could allow the virus to return,” stressing Nigeria’s goal of achieving zero polio cases by December 2025.
Also speaking, NPHCDA North-West Zonal Director, Dr. Kabiru Mohammed, represented by State Coordinator Maryam Umar, called on social and youth influencers to counter misinformation and encourage caregivers to present their children for vaccination.
She warned that persistent myths continue to endanger children despite significant progress and noted that the November campaign offers another opportunity to close immunity gaps and ensure no child is left behind.
Our Correspondent reports that Kano 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.
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