The Kano State Government, in partnership with UNICEF, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and other stakeholders, has launched a large-scale measles-rubella and polio vaccination campaign targeting millions of children across the state.
Speaking at a media dialogue and mobilisation session on the integrated campaign, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Farah said “the initiative aims to reach 7.8 million children aged nine months to 14 years with measles-rubella vaccines.”
Mr. Farah emphasised that the campaign is part of efforts to strengthen routine immunisation, prevent outbreaks, and safeguard the health of children in Kano State.
The vaccination drive also includes polio immunisation, reflecting a coordinated approach to protect children from multiple preventable diseases.
“The campaign received 3,347 teams, allocation providing 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of bOPV targeting 3.9 million children under five years of age for the October polio vaccination campaign,” Farah said.
He explained that “is the campaign will be implemented using fixed posts, temporary posts, and sweep teams. Each measles-rubella team comprises 11 members, while two members make up each polio sweep team.”
To support vaccine management, UNICEF and partners trained and deployed three VSLs, 44 local government vaccine accountability officers, and 684 ward-level vaccine accountability officers across the state.
“For the success and visibility of the integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, with the support of UNICEF, has provided to Kano State 88 publicity banners, 3,347 vaccination post banners, 1,056 posters, 44,000 key messages for caregivers, 13,200 FAQs for health workers, 1,320 Christian sermon guides, 30,380 Muslim sermon guides, 8,800 key messages for local influencers, 880 key messages for media and 176 general banners,” he emphasised.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano also highlighted the training of 3,300 health workers on interpersonal communication skills and the deployment of 870 non-compliance resolution teams (NCRTs). A total of 290 NCRTs, made up of traditional leaders, community influencers, and vaccinators, will be used to address non-compliance during the campaign.
From the Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCM) network, UNICEF deployed eight state facilitators, 44 local government facilitators, 486 voluntary ward supervisors, 385 polio survivor groups, and 4,864 community mobilisers.
Farah noted progress in reducing variant polio cases but stressed the urgency of achieving total eradication.
“While we acknowledge the progress made possible by the government and partners, our goal of halting the circulation of the polio virus in Kano State is yet to be attained. Kano has reported three cases of a variant of polio virus (cVPV2) so far in 2025, one each from Warawa, Bunkure and Nassarawa LGAs, compared to 31 cases from 17 LGAs in 2024,” he said.
With December set as the deadline for halting polio circulation, Farah urged more government support.
“We urge the state to use 400 MP3 Bluetooth speakers with pre-loaded USB discs provided by UNICEF for social mobilisation and to be retained according to SOPs. I would like to commend His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, who is the Chairman of the Kano State Taskforce on Immunisation and PHC, for personally flagging off the immediate past vaccination campaigns in the state and mobilising the state citizens. UNICEF and partners call on Kano State to also flag off the integrated October campaign.” The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano stated.
He also commended LGA chairmen for monitoring previous campaigns and urged them to sustain momentum in October.
“The October Integrated Polio Vaccination Campaign presents another opportunity for us to work towards eradicating polio. Everyone has a role to play, including the media. I urge the media to disseminate accurate information on the Measles-Rubella Integrated Polio Vaccination Campaign and use various channels to mobilise caregivers, parents, communities, and stakeholders to make children available for vaccination. Vaccines are provided free by the government, are effective and safe. Let us take all necessary actions to eradicate polio in Kano State and indeed Nigeria,” Farah said.
He explained that the national measles-rubella and polio campaign would be implemented in all 36 states in two phases between October 6, 2025, and February 16, 2026.
Kano falls under Phase One, to be implemented in 21 states in two streams. Stream One will run from October 6 to October 17, 2025.
PIAK