By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi
Birnin Kebbi, June 13, 2025 – The Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has received 2 million doses of polio vaccines to launch a mass immunization campaign against the re-emergence of polio variants in the state. The exercise aims to cover all children under five years old in a bid to halt the circulation of the polio variants.
According to Mallam Yusuf Umar Sauwa, State Health Promotion Officer, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the decision to launch the mass immunization campaign was informed by the recent detection of circulating polio variants in the state. "Recently, it has been ascertained that there's circulation of polio variants, which makes it obligatory to take immediate steps to halt the circulation," Sauwa stated at a joint media parley with UNICEF on Friday in Birnin Kebbi.
Sauwa assured that the vaccines being used are booster vaccines that are adequate, effective, safe, and have the necessary potency to interrupt the transmission of polio variants. "Our vaccines are booster vaccines, adequate, effective, safe, with necessary potency to interrupt the transmission," he emphasized.
The State Health Promotion Officer also revealed that the state currently has zero reported cases of polio affliction, and the mass vaccination campaign is aimed at maintaining this status. "For now, there's zero case of affliction throughout the state, and we shall carry out the mass vaccination campaign to fruition," Sauwa remarked.
The Kebbi State Government has pledged to provide material support, staffing, and logistics to ensure quality coverage in all communities, towns, and villages. "Kebbi government is doing the needful to ensure the provision of material support, staffing and logistics towards quality coverage in all communities, towns and villages," Sauwa said.
The agency, in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, will conduct the mass immunization campaign. A series of training sessions have been conducted across state and local government levels to prepare health personnel, vaccinators, and community mobilizers.
To address issues of non-compliance and vaccine rejection, particularly in areas such as Jega, Koko, and Birnin Kebbi, religious and traditional leaders have been actively engaged to help dispel misinformation and promote vaccine acceptance.
Sauwa appealed to parents and caregivers, assuring that no child would be missed during the 2025 campaign, as comprehensive measures have been put in place to ensure full coverage. "We have received at least 2 million doses of polio vaccine from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in preparation for the 2025 round of polio vaccination in Kebbi State," he stated.
The state government has also provided cold storage facilities, including in remote areas, to ensure the proper preservation of the vaccines. This development comes as part of efforts to combat polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in the state.
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Polio vaccine