Musa Na-Allah, Sokoto
Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating polio after successfully immunizing more than 1.5 million children in its latest vaccination exercise, surpassing the initial target of 1.4 million.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, disclosed this on Friday during an event marking World Polio Day in Sokoto, themed “A Future for Every Child: Let’s End Polio Together.”
Dr. Abubakar attributed the success of the campaign to the dedication of health workers, traditional institutions, and development partners who have sustained efforts to protect children from the virus.
“Our journey toward a polio-free Sokoto is not yet over, but our progress shows what unity and commitment can achieve.
“Every child deserves protection from this preventable disease, and we will not relent until no child is left unvaccinated,” he said.
He revealed that the state government had released additional funds to strengthen grassroots immunization campaigns and routine vaccination programs across rural communities.
The commissioner also commended the support of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside frontline workers and community mobilizers, for building public trust and expanding vaccine coverage.
Despite the progress, Dr. Abubakar noted that some local government areas, specifically Bodinga, Shagari, and Wamakko, fell short of the 90 percent coverage benchmark set by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
“We are not naming these local governments to criticize them but to encourage improvement. Those below 90 percent will receive additional support to ensure no child is left behind,” he added.
To enhance service delivery, the state has deployed 209 qualified health workers across 109 primary health centres, integrating immunization services with maternal and child healthcare.
He further identified border communities as a persistent challenge due to population movement and called for continued collaboration with neighbouring states to sustain gains in the fight against polio.
In his remarks, Michael Juma, UNICEF Chief of Field Office for Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, praised Sokoto’s efforts, describing them as “remarkable.”
He revealed that overall vaccination coverage across the three states reached about 120 percent, translating to over 5.3 million children immunized through strong community engagement and partnerships.
However, Juma noted that about 3,000 households remain resistant or inaccessible due to misinformation and social barriers.
“We have resolved 86 percent of non-compliance cases, but we must reach every single household.
“The media, community leaders, and health workers all have a crucial role to play in achieving total eradication,” he said.
The World Polio Day celebration also featured a youth football tournament aimed at raising awareness about vaccination.
Polio survivors were among those who shared inspiring stories to encourage parents to vaccinate their children.
