Gusau: The Zamfara Government on Saturday inaugurated the Second Round of Polio Outbreak Response campaign in the state and promised to sustain the extant efforts to maintain its polio-free status.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Zamfara has been maintaining a zero-polio status since October 2024.
Speaking at the inauguration of the campaign at the Palace of the Emir of Gusau, the Executive Secretary of the Zamfara Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Hussaini Yakubu, emphasized the importance of traditional rulers as key stakeholders in the success of the polio immunisation campaign. Yakubu highlighted that the four-day campaign aims to cover over 9,000 settlements across the 147 wards of the 14 local government areas in the state, reaffirming the commitment of Governor Dauda Lawal's administration to the fight against polio and the promotion of primary healthcare services in Zamfara.
Yakubu noted the critical role of traditional leaders in the polio immunisation exercise and commended both traditional and religious leaders in the state for their support. He stressed the necessity of extending messages about the importance of polio immunisation through royal figures, as well as soliciting support from media and other stakeholders to reach the grassroots level effectively.
The Chief of UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, Malam Isa Ibrahim, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the campaign's aim to ensure that no child is left behind in the polio vaccination process. He expressed appreciation to the Zamfara Government and all stakeholders for the progress made, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges that require immediate attention. Ibrahim assured UNICEF's continued support to the state in maintaining its polio-free status, noting that to eliminate poliovirus, 95 percent of children under five need to receive the oral polio vaccine in at least three consecutive rounds.
In his remarks, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, pledged the support of traditional and religious leaders to ensure the campaign's success. He called on government and partners to develop new strategies to eradicate polio, emphasizing the importance of media campaigns in reaching a broader audience and encouraging participation in the exercise.
The event was attended by officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), various partners, religious and community leaders, women groups, and media representatives, among others.