The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and other development partners say they have begun a round of March 2026 polio vaccination for over 3 million children, including those in the hard-to-reach areas, bedevilled by insecurity in Niger State.
The campaign, which targets children from zero to 59 months, has as part of its strategy to capture all targeted children, the hard-to-reach vaccination team and the house-to-house team.
The Social and Behavioural Change Specialist of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, Ibrahim Muhammed, said the aggressive campaign in Niger State becomes imperative due to its border with states that are called the axis of intractable transmission of the virus.
According to him, recent developments in Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara and Sokoto states underscore the need for urgent action.
In a bid to ensure that the over 3 million children are vaccinated and no one is left out, house-to-house vaccinators are employed, with those in the hard-to-reach areas being captured.
Caregivers and parents are therefore urged to bring their children for vaccination in collaboration with the state government, religious and traditional leaders.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
