In a clarion call that has reignited public health discourse, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kano State Government to declare a state of emergency on polio and routine immunisation following a disturbing resurgence of the virus in the state.
Speaking at a media dialogue ahead of the 2025 World Immunization Week, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Rahma Farah, represented by Michael Banda, expressed deep concern over the detection of three of Nigeria’s 18 recent polio cases in Kano State. The cases were recorded in Warawa, Bunkure, and Nassarawa Local Government Areas — areas previously believed to be making headway in the fight against the virus.
Banda emphasized the urgent need for stronger political commitment, timely disbursement of funds, and a robust strategy for community mobilisation to combat vaccine hesitancy, which remains a major obstacle to effective immunisation in the region. He warned that without swift action, decades of progress in eradicating polio could be reversed, posing a grave threat not only to Kano but to surrounding states.
"We must act now. The lives of over four million children depend on it," Banda said, underscoring the urgency of the April 24–30 immunisation campaign, which aims to vaccinate at least 4.1 million children across the state.
UNICEF also called on local government chairmen and traditional leaders to throw their weight behind the campaign, describing their roles as crucial in mobilising households and ensuring last-mile delivery of vaccines. The agency appealed for a statewide sensitisation drive, deployment of mobile health teams, and renewed collaboration with religious institutions to foster public trust in immunisation.
Health officials in the state have acknowledged the setback and are reportedly in consultation with development partners to chart an emergency response plan. However, public health experts argue that only a formal declaration of a state of emergency can trigger the kind of administrative and financial commitment needed to reverse the troubling trend.
The call by UNICEF comes at a critical time when routine immunisation coverage in parts of Northern Nigeria has witnessed a decline due to misinformation, security challenges, and dwindling healthcare funding.
As World Immunization Week approaches, the question now remains: Will Kano rise to the occasion before the virus spreads further, or will it once again become a hotspot in the global battle against polio?