The United Nations Youngsters’s Fund, UNICEF, has known as on the Kano State Authorities to declare a State of emergency on polio and routine immunisation following a resurgence of the illness within the state.
The Chief of Area Workplace in Kano, Rahma Farah, made the decision on Tuesday in Kano throughout a media dialogue on polio and routine immunization forward of the World Immunization Week.
Represented by Michael Banda, UNICEF Senior Schooling Supervisor in Kano, Farah mentioned the decision turned mandatory as Nigeria recorded 18 instances of polio in 18 native authorities areas throughout 9 states, with three cases in Warawa, Bunkure and Nassarawa LGAs of Kano State.
“That is unacceptable and should be urgently addressed. Polio is aware of no boundaries. An outbreak wherever threatens youngsters in every single place,” he mentioned.
The dialogue held in collaboration with the Kano State Authorities and the State Main Well being Care Administration Board was convened to hunt media help in mobilising public participation forward of the subsequent Polio Vaccination Marketing campaign scheduled for April 24 to 30, 2025, which coincides with World Immunisation Week.
Farah emphasised the vital position of the media in countering disinformation, myths and rumours that always hinder vaccination efforts.
“UNICEF recognises and values your ongoing dedication to little one rights advocacy and public consciousness via your platforms.
“We name on you to disseminate correct info and encourage dad and mom and caregivers to carry out their youngsters for vaccination,” he mentioned.
He famous that greater than three billion folks have been vaccinated towards polio globally since 1988, resulting in a dramatic discount in instances, however warned that latest outbreaks present the battle is just not but over.
UNICEF additionally appealed to native governments and urged the Kano State Authorities to indicate political will by declaring a state of emergency on polio and to make sure the well timed launch of counterpart funding.
Equally, it known as on the Chairman of the Affiliation of Native Authorities Chairmen to safe monetary commitments from LGA leaders for polio campaigns, and for all LGA chairpersons to actively take part in implementation, oversight and backbone of non-compliance.
The company appealed to conventional and spiritual leaders within the state to publicly help vaccination efforts and mobilise communities.
Nevertheless, each UNICEF and the Kano State Authorities, reaffirmed their dedication to eradicating polio within the state, with a goal to vaccinate no fewer than 4.1 million youngsters.
Talking on the occasion, the State Immunization Officer (SIO) Sa’adatu Ibrahim, mentioned the World Immunization Week was a part of efforts to take care of Nigeria’s polio standing and stop resurgence of the virus.
“Our goal is to succeed in each little one with the polio vaccine. The virus has no place in our communities and should be fully eradicated,” she mentioned.
In keeping with her, Kano State reported three new confirmed instances of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus kind 2 (cVPV2) in 2025, elevating renewed considerations about persistent gaps in immunisation protection and surveillance throughout the state.
“In keeping with information from the state’s polio surveillance unit, the instances — two detected via Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance and one via Environmental Surveillance (ES) — had been recorded in Warawa, Bunkure, and Nassarawa Native Authorities Areas (LGAs).
“This newest detection follows a resurgence in 2023 and 2024, with 27 confirmed cVPV2 instances throughout 11 LGAs in 2023, and an additional 31 instances unfold throughout 17 LGAs in 2024,”
She mentioned that the continued isolation of cVPV2 from stool and sewage samples signifies that many eligible youngsters are nonetheless being missed throughout routine immunisation workout routines and supplementary immunisation actions (SIAs).
“Each missed little one is a hiding place for the polio virus,” she defined.