The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Nigerian government to strengthen its efforts to ensure that all children receive polio vaccinations. This plea was made by Rahama Farah, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, during the observance of World Polio Day.
Farah emphasized the significance of immunization for children’s health, highlighting it as the most cost-effective strategy to combat vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly for those under five years old. Despite improvements in immunization coverage, he noted that Nigeria still faces considerable challenges in vaccinating all eligible children.
He reported concerning statistics, revealing that over half a million children in Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states are classified as “Zero Dose,” meaning they have not received essential vaccinations. Specifically, there are 280,281 in Kano, 171,491 in Katsina, and 104,978 in Jigawa. Nationally, the estimate stands at two million Zero Dose children, who are at significant risk for diseases, including polio.
Farah stressed the importance of collaborative leadership from government officials, traditional and religious leaders, health workers, and community influencers to achieve vaccination goals. He also underscored the necessity for adequate funding of the health sector, particularly during polio vaccination campaigns.
He urged local government chairmen to become actively involved in immunization efforts, overseeing polio eradication initiatives and participating in review meetings to ensure that every child in their local government area is vaccinated.
Written By; Christopher Emuakpeje