Lukman Abdulmalik
The Kano State Government has officially launched a historic Measles–Rubella Integrated Vaccination Campaign targeting more than 7.8 million children aged 9 months to 14 years across the state’s 44 local government areas.
The 10-day campaign, which runs from October 6 to 16, was flagged off on Monday at Tofa Local Government Area by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was represented by his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
Governor Yusuf described the exercise as a landmark initiative and the first of its kind in the entire African region, integrating multiple health interventions into a single campaign.
He said the exercise reaffirms the government’s commitment to strengthening routine immunization and ensuring every child has access to life-saving vaccines against preventable diseases.
“This campaign is called integrated because it combines several health interventions such as measles–rubella, polio, routine immunization, HPV vaccination for adolescent girls, and mass drug administration against river blindness,” the governor said.
“It’s a major step forward for our state and our country.
“Let no child be left behind, these vaccines save lives.”
The governor noted that good health is the foundation of human capital development and highlighted the administration’s continuous investment in the health sector.
He announced that ₦250 million has been earmarked to upgrade the Tofa Comprehensive Health Centre into a full-fledged secondary health facility as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across all 44 local government areas.
Governor Yusuf commended health workers for their dedication and urged them to carry out their duties with patience, respect, and commitment to building community trust.
He also appreciated development partners and stakeholders for their continued support, assuring that the vaccines and medicines being administered are safe, free, and effective.
Earlier, at a press briefing held at the Emergency Operations Centre in Kano, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the campaign marks a major milestone in protecting children and mothers from preventable diseases.
He explained that this is the first time Nigeria and Kano State will administer the combined Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccine, describing it as a major breakthrough in child and maternal health.
“This campaign is historic because it marks the first time Nigeria and Kano State will administer the combined Measles–Rubella vaccine to protect our children and future mothers from both diseases simultaneously,” Dr. Yusuf said.
According to him, rubella, also known as German measles, though mild in children, can cause Congenital Rubella Syndrome in unborn babies, leading to severe birth defects such as heart disorders, hearing loss, and developmental challenges.
He added that the introduction of the MR vaccine aligns with the National Rubella Elimination Strategy and the World Health Organization’s regional goal of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome by 2030.
Dr. Yusuf said the measles–rubella exercise is being conducted alongside a polio vaccination campaign targeting 3.9 million children under the age of five, reaffirming the state’s commitment to maintaining Nigeria’s wild polio-free status.
He said Kano is strengthening surveillance and routine immunization to address the few cases of variant poliovirus recently detected in the state.
He also noted that the state is fully participating in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rollout to protect adolescent girls aged 9 to 14 years against cervical cancer.
“We are integrating HPV vaccination into schools and communities to ensure no eligible girl is left behind,” he said.
The commissioner further disclosed that the campaign will include the distribution of ivermectin for the prevention of Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, across six local government areas which are Tudun Wada, Madobi, Gaya, Kabo, Dambatta, and Garun Malam, as part of ongoing efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases.
Dr. Yusuf expressed appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his tremendous support to the health sector and thanked the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, UNICEF, AFENET, the Gates Foundation, and other development partners for their technical and financial contributions.
He called on parents, caregivers, and community members to ensure that all eligible children receive the free and safe vaccines during the campaign, adding that “together, we can make Kano State a model of immunization excellence in Nigeria and Africa at large.”
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Tofa Local Government Area, Hon. Yakubu Ibrahim Shuaibu, expressed gratitude for choosing Tofa as the flagship point of the vaccination campaign and urged residents to embrace the exercise for the health and wellbeing of their children.
Also speaking at the event, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, represented by Bashir Abubakar, Dan Adalan Kano and Hakimin Tofa, commended the state government for launching the integrated campaign.
He called on district and ward heads across the state to step down sensitization efforts and mobilize community members to ensure full participation.
Governor Yusuf reaffirmed Kano’s partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA, WHO, UNICEF, AFENET, and other stakeholders to strengthen routine immunization and build a healthier population.
“Together, we are saving lives, building trust, and strengthening our health system.” he concluded.
To ensure strengthening healthcare the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) also supported the media in enhancing reportage on healthcare delivery in Kano, particularly to strengthen accountability and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
