By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi, Dec 16, 2025 - The Bauchi State government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has initiated a seven-day immunisation campaign targeting 127,550 children in Toro Local Government Area. The campaign aims to safeguard children against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce child mortality, and enhance overall child health.
Musa Danladi, Local Immunisation Officer (LIO) for Toro Local Government Area, stated that the campaign is a collaborative effort with UNICEF, the Bauchi State government, and the World Health Organization (WHO). "Our teams are going house-to-house with Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (NOPV) to ensure that all eligible children from 0 to 59 months are immunised," he said.
Danladi added that the campaign has trained 32 ward focal persons and field volunteers to conduct the immunisation exercise, which began in Tilde Ward, an area previously noted for low vaccine compliance.
"We also operate fixed posts in each of the 17 wards for children aged 0-23 months, providing vaccines including NOPV, BCG, Hepatitis B, IPV, and PCV," he said, noting that vaccine compliance in Toro Local Government Area has reached 99%.
Ahmed Yau Suleiman, Consultant at Magama Primary Healthcare Centre, attributed the success to strong parental participation, saying, "We haven't faced much resistance. Through programs like 'Father For Good Health,' we educate families door-to-door, and parents are now bringing their children for vaccination."
Parents who have benefited from the immunisation campaign expressed their gratitude. Ibrahim Haruna, a parent from Giljauli village, said, "I did not take my first four children for vaccinations, but now all six of my children are vaccinated, and I have saved myself a lot of suffering and expenses."
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, said, "UNICEF has reached over 1.7 million children in Bauchi state. Immunisation is a key strategy to save lives, keep children healthy, and help them reach their full potential."
Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board (BSPHDB), acknowledged some vaccine rejection cases, attributing them to misconceptions about overdosing. "Some people think repeated campaigns might overdose their children, but this is due to ignorance, and we continue to educate them," he said.
The collaborative effort aims to protect children, reduce child mortality, and eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
