UNICEF, Niger State Health Agency Urge Polio Vaccination Amid Regional Outbreaks
UNICEF and the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA) have urgently called on parents and guardians to vaccinate children during a state-wide immunisation campaign, following increased polio cases in neighbouring states.
The appeal was made by Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, a Social and Behaviour Change Specialist with UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office, during a media briefing in Minna. The campaign targets all 25 local government areas in Niger State and is designed to halt potential transmission and boost public knowledge about the disease.
Dr. Mohammed reviewed the epidemiological situation, highlighting recent polio cases in Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara, and Sokoto states. He stressed that this regional resurgence places unvaccinated children in Niger State at heightened risk.
“There is no cure for polio,” Dr. Mohammed stated. “Immunisation remains the most effective means of prevention. We are urging parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the vaccine.” He explained that multiple doses are essential for full immunity and that missed vaccinations can perpetuate the virus’s spread.
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children under five, potentially causing irreversible paralysis or death. The current effort underscores the critical need for rapid, comprehensive vaccination coverage in border regions to create herd immunity and prevent outbreaks.
Health officials at the briefing also underscored that the campaign’s success depends on sustained community engagement and awareness. Continued cooperation from families and local leaders is deemed vital to achieve high coverage and protect vulnerable populations.
This proactive measure comes as Nigeria, though certified free of wild poliovirus since 2020, continues to face outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus, necessitating high routine immunisation coverage and periodic supplemental campaigns to safeguard children’s health.
