The Gombe State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has inaugurated the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign in the state, targeting 832,427 children for polio vaccination.
The campaign was inaugurated on Friday in Swa community, Balanga Local Government Area, and also marked the launch of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).
Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau, who inaugurated the exercise, said the integrated campaign was crucial to protecting the health of children and expectant mothers. He was represented by Dr. Ahmed Kashere, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
“This campaign targets 832,427 eligible children and pregnant women across the 11 local government areas, with a focus on polio vaccination for children under five years,” Jatau said.
He explained that the exercise would also provide Vitamin A supplementation for 770,852 children aged six to 59 months to boost immunity and prevent night blindness.
According to him, children aged 12 to 59 months will receive deworming medication to improve nutritional status and reduce worm infestation, while malnutrition screening will be conducted for children aged six to 59 months to ensure early detection and management.
Jatau added that multiple micronutrient supplements would be provided to 214,126 pregnant women to support healthy pregnancies, alongside Sulphadoxine–Pyrimethamine to prevent malaria and related complications.
“The campaign will also include health education on essential household practices to empower communities with knowledge on healthy living,” he said.
The deputy governor urged stakeholders, community members and development partners to support the exercise to protect children and pregnant women and promote healthier communities.
He commended partners, community leaders and health workers for their commitment to improving health outcomes in the state.
Mr. Haruna Gambo, Zonal Technical Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of children and mothers nationwide, noting that the integrated campaign would strengthen the immunization system and improve community health.
In her remarks, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, said a similar campaign conducted earlier in 2025 recorded remarkable success, reaching thousands of children.
She stressed that immunization remained one of the most powerful tools for protecting children from life-threatening but preventable diseases.
“In Gombe State, the immunization campaign is integrated with the MNCHW to ensure that more children and mothers are reached with essential health services,” Rafique said.
She disclosed that UNICEF had provided more than 20,000 bottles of multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women and over 700,000 doses of Vitamin A to boost children’s immunity.
Rafique thanked donor agencies and government partners and urged parents, caregivers and community leaders to ensure that no child was missed.
Mothers who turned out in large numbers told reporters that they appreciated the government and development partners for providing free vaccines and supplements, noting that their children now fell ill less frequently since embracing government-led health initiatives.
