The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Sokoto State Government have expressed optimism on the successful outcome of the 2025 Polio Immunisation Outbreak Response (OBR) campaign in the state.
The exercise, which commenced on Saturday, targets children aged 0–5 years for vaccination against the circulating variant of poliovirus type 2. It forms part of Nigeria’s national drive to eradicate polio transmission completely by December 2025.
In Sokoto, the campaign is focused on three high-risk local government areas, including Wamakko, Sokoto South, and Sokoto North, which are identified for their previous high rates of non-compliance.
The UNICEF Chief of Sokoto Field Office, Michael Juma said, the state would leaverage effective power of the vaccine to drive polio to the ‘cuffin’.
In the same vein the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Larai Tambuwal, expressed satisfaction with the progress.
“As you can see, parents and caregivers are now willingly mobilizing their children for vaccination,” she said. “I want to assure you that the current exercise will surely record a positive outcome. We are targeting over one million children aged 0-5 years, and with the level of engagement we’ve seen so far, we are confident that no child will be left out.”
Dr. Tambuwal emphasized that the campaign was more than routine immunisation; it was a vital step to “safeguard future generations from polio.”
Monitoring activities were also observed in Sokoto South LGA, where the Council Chairman, Ya’u Danda, personally supervised the vaccination teams.
“I urge all parents to ensure their children are fully immunized. The polio vaccine is safe and effective,” Danda said, expressing confidence that the OBR would achieve its goals.
At Arkilla, in Wamakko local government area, officials reported strong parental participation.
During the outside house-to-house vaccination, the supervisors of team 012, Aina’u Abubakar and that of team 006, Hauwa’u Abdullahi told ASHENEWS that no resistant had thus far been recorded.
As the immunisation campaign continues, all eyes are on Sokoto’s ability to overcome historical challenges and contribute to Nigeria’s broader effort to finally eradicate polio.
