By Khadija Aliyu
As part of ongoing efforts to eradicate polio in Kano State, local government chairmen and district heads from all 44 local government areas are participating in a two-day workshop aimed at equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to combat the disease.
The training, organised by the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board (SPHDCMB) with support from UNICEF, seeks to sustain gains in polio eradication, routine immunisation, and other primary healthcare services.
Tagged “Interactive Meeting with Local Government Chairmen on Sustaining the Gains for Polio Eradication, Routine Immunisation, and Other Primary Healthcare Services in Kano”.
The workshop provides a platform for local government chairmen and district heads to engage in discussions on immunisation, polio eradication, and addressing zero-dose cases across the state.
Polio is a contagious viral disease that can cause paralysis and is easily preventable through vaccination.
The virus spreads through contaminated food, water, or direct contact with an infected person and can lead to severe complications, including permanent paralysis, breathing difficulties, and even death.
Declaring the workshop open, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, who also chairs the state taskforce on immunisation, reiterated the government’s commitment to polio eradication.
He assured stakeholders of the state’s unwavering support in the fight against polio and emphasised the effectiveness of the polio vaccine.
He also urged political and traditional leaders to monitor immigrant populations to ensure they have received immunisation.
“There are already mechanisms in place for collecting samples from the population and communities, particularly those with drainage systems. We need all hands on deck from political and traditional leaders,” he stated.
The Director-General of the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr Nasir Mahmoud, highlighted that the workshop aims to update local government chairmen, district heads, and other stakeholders on current health indices, immunisation coverage, polio eradication efforts, and zero-dose cases in Kano.
He said, “The goal is to secure commitments from LGA chairmen and district heads on funding, monitoring, political will, and coordination of immunisation and other health intervention programmes to ensure the elimination of poliovirus by the end of 2025.”
Similarly, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kano, Mr Rahma Rihood Mohammad, lamented that children in Kano are still vulnerable to the crippling polio virus, with nearly 250,000 zero-dose children in the state.
“In 2022, six cases were reported; in 2023, this increased to 27; and by 2024, the number has risen to 29,” he revealed.
He urged the Kano State Government to intensify efforts through community mobilisation, increased support for health workers, advocacy for more resources, and strengthening community trust.
“Without improving routine immunisation coverage and ensuring that every child is reached in our campaigns, we risk a resurgence of diseases we have worked so hard to eliminate,” he warned.
Radio Nigeria reports that the workshop witnessed a large turnout of representatives from the federal and state ministries of health, Kano Emirate Council, the State House of Assembly, and development partners, among others.
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