Katsina records high turnout as polio vaccination campaign targets 2.8m children

A wave of public confidence and community mobilisation is driving the ongoing three-day polio vaccination exercise across Katsina State, with health officials reporting strong turnout as the campaign enters its final phase.

The exercise, which covers all 34 Local Government Areas, is targeting more than 2.8 million children under five. It also integrates routine immunisation and mass administration of azithromycin, alongside other maternal and child health services.

Shamsudeen Yahaya, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Agency, represented by Mukhtar Mahmud at a recent media dialogue, said the campaign is designed to ensure no child is left unreached.

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According to him, the state is deploying door-to-door teams, fixed posts and mobile units, supported by extensive stakeholder engagement, training of vaccinators and social mobilisation efforts.

“Additionally, we will be integrating maternal and child health services, offering interventions such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets for children and nutritional supplements for pregnant women,” he said.

Early feedback from field teams indicates rising acceptance of immunisation across communities. In Zango LGA, cases of non-compliance dropped from seven households in the previous round to just two.

“This improvement is due to increased awareness and the support of partners like UNICEF. We are pushing toward zero-dose children in the locality and across the state,” Mahmud added.

Residents have also expressed confidence in the safety and value of the vaccines. Maimunatu Sani Awualu, a mother in Zango LGA, said she has kept her three-year-old fully immunised since birth.

“I’ve never skipped any dose because I understand the risks of polio. Those refusing immunisation often don’t know how dangerous it can be,” she said.

Another resident, Fayiza Abdullahi, who brought her youngest child for immunisation, said years of personal experience have convinced her of the vaccine’s safety.

“I have six children, all fully immunised. There was a lot of hearsay in the past, but my siblings and I were vaccinated and nothing happened to us. It is clear the misinformation is untrue,” she said.

The state government is working in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to coordinate logistics, strengthen community engagement and ensure the smooth rollout of the campaign across all LGAs.