United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kano State Government to declare a state of emergency on polio and routine immunisation due to the resurgence of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the state.
With 18 polio cases recorded across nine states, including three in Kano, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Rahma Farah, emphasized the need for urgent action. “Polio knows no boundaries. An outbreak anywhere threatens children everywhere,” she said.
In response, the Kano State Government will immunize 4.1 million children under five years old. The state has identified challenges such as hard-to-reach settlements and poor healthcare workers but has a renewed strategy to overcome these obstacles.
A polio vaccination campaign is scheduled for April 24-30, 2025, coinciding with World Immunization Week. UNICEF is collaborating with the state government to raise awareness and mobilise parents.
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