The Polio Emergency Operations Centre in Zamfara State has announced that over 2 million children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella.
Dr. Murtala Salahudeen, Incident Manager of the Centre, disclosed this on Saturday in Gusau during a press conference to mark World Polio Day. He added that more than 1.8 million children aged 0–59 months in the state have also been vaccinated against the polio virus.
Salahudeen described the achievements as a significant step toward protecting children from deadly but preventable diseases.
“Today is an important day to raise public awareness about the threats posed by polio to the socioeconomic development of our society,” he said. “Part of today’s activities is to review the achievements and challenges in the fight against polio and other killer diseases.”
He attributed the successes to the commitment of the Zamfara State government and strong partnerships with stakeholders.
“The declaration of a health sector emergency by Governor Dauda Lawal contributed significantly to these achievements. In collaboration with our partners, the government provided the necessary funding and technical support to deliver polio vaccines,” Salahudeen said.
He acknowledged the contributions of WHO, UNICEF, Chigari, Sultan, and Salina Foundations in reaching previously unvaccinated children.
“WHO provided substantial funding and logistical support to reach hard-to-reach communities. Together with UNICEF and other partners, they also provided technical guidance and capacity building for routine immunization activities across all 14 local government areas,” he explained.
Salahudeen further highlighted the role of the state government in providing health personnel, facilities, and conducive working environments to support polio eradication efforts.
He noted that collaboration with security agencies enabled vaccination even in nomadic and otherwise hard-to-reach communities.
“We successfully vaccinated children in nomadic settlements, ensuring that no child is left behind,” he added.
