The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kano State Government to declare a state of emergency on polio and routine immunisation following the recent resurgence of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the state.
Three cases confirmed in Kano
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kano, Rahma Farah, made the appeal on Monday, April 22, 2025.
This is coming as Nigeria recorded 18 cases across nine states—three of them in Kano.
“Polio knows no boundaries. An outbreak anywhere threatens children everywhere,” Farah warned, stressing the need for immediate and coordinated action.
Kano plans to vaccinate 4.1 million children
In response, the Kano State Government announced its plan to immunise 4.1 million children under five years old.
Officials identified key challenges, including hard-to-reach settlements and inadequate health personnel, but assured that new strategies are being deployed to address them.
Mass immunisation to begin April 24
The state-wide polio vaccination campaign is set to take place from April 24 to 30, 2025, coinciding with World Immunization Week.
UNICEF is partnering with the state government to mobilise parents and caregivers and raise awareness on the importance of the exercise.
This renewed campaign shows the urgency of addressing gaps in immunisation coverage and the importance of collaboration between government and development partners to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
