Jigawa, UNICEF Launch Campaign to Immunize 4.8m Children Against Measles, Polio

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will on Monday roll out a mass vaccination campaign aimed at protecting over 4.8 million children from measles, rubella, and polio.
State Immunisation Officer, Dr. Shehu Ibrahim, announced the exercise during a media dialogue in Dutse, noting that the campaign will run from October 6 to 15 across all 27 local government areas of the state.
According to him, 3,186,521 children aged 9 months to 14 years are expected to receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine — representing nearly half of Jigawa’s population. In addition, 1,517,319 children under the age of five will be given the Oral Polio Vaccine.
To deliver the campaign, 1,580 vaccination teams have been mobilised, each consisting of 11 personnel, including vaccinators, recorders, mobilisers, and town announcers. Over 5,100 trained health workers will participate in the exercise.
Dr. Ibrahim added that routine immunisation will also be integrated into the campaign to capture children who may have missed earlier rounds.
The State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Kabiru Mustapha, stressed the importance of community support, warning that measles and polio remain leading causes of preventable child deaths.
“All hands must be on deck to protect both the newborn and the unborn. With the support of parents, traditional rulers, and religious leaders, Jigawa can achieve zero measles and polio cases,” Dr. Mustapha said.
He assured parents and caregivers that the vaccines are safe, effective, and free of charge.
The campaign underscores Jigawa’s ongoing collaboration with UNICEF and other partners to strengthen child health and reduce vaccine-preventable diseases in the state.