Katsina State will embark on a mass immunisation campaign targeting more than seven million children against polio and measles-rubella between October 4 and 13.
The initiative, announced by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Chief Kano Field Officer, Rahama Muhammed, comes as the state records only two cases of circulating variant polio virus in 2025, a significant drop from 17 cases across eight local government areas in 2024.
Speaking at a media dialogue and mobilisation meeting ahead of the campaign, Muhammed described the progress as remarkable.
He disclosed that over 3.6 million doses of the novel oral polio vaccine (NOPV2) have been allocated to reach 2.3 million children under five, while 4.8 million children aged 9–14 will be immunized against measles and rubella.
According to him, the exercise will engage 2,253 vaccination teams across fixed and temporary posts, with 5,584 routine immunisation teams also deployed.
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Of these, 3,761 going house-to-house, 993 covering transit points, and 830 operating from fixed sites will work between October 4 and 8 to ensure that no child was left out.
Muhammed further stated that UNICEF has trained 3,300 health workers in enhanced communication skills and prepared 600 members of non-compliance resolution teams to address vaccine hesitancy in real time.
He added that 200 special teams, made up of community leaders, traditional leaders, and vaccinators will also be on standby during the period.
He urged the Katsina State Government and other stakeholders to mobilise sufficient resources and support the campaign to achieve zero cases of the virus.
