The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency have intensified calls for parents and guardians to present their children for polio vaccination ahead of a statewide campaign beginning March 29, 2026.
The exercise, which will take place in all 25 local government areas of Niger State, is aimed at preventing further spread of the virus amid rising cases recorded in neighbouring states.
Speaking at a media parley in Minna, an SBC Specialist with UNICEF Field Office Kaduna, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed, said recent developments in Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara and Sokoto states underscore the need for urgent action.
He noted that children under the age of five remain the most vulnerable, describing polio as a highly infectious disease that can cause lifelong paralysis or death.
Dr Mohammed warned that Niger State faces a heightened risk due to its proximity to affected states, stressing that unvaccinated children are particularly exposed.
“There is no cure for polio, and vaccination remains the only reliable protection,” he said.
He explained that children require multiple doses of the vaccine to build full immunity, adding that failure to complete the doses could sustain transmission.
He therefore urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the campaign to protect their children and support efforts to eliminate the disease.
Other stakeholders at the meeting highlighted the role of the media and community leaders in mobilising public participation and addressing misinformation surrounding immunisation.