The Bauchi State government, with support from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners, on Friday, launched the 2025 polio immunisation campaign in the state.

Rilwanu Mohammed, executive chairman of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, at the campaign inauguration in Tirwun, Bauchi, stated that the exercise aims to vaccinate all children under the age of five across the state.

According to him, attention will be given to “zero-dose” children, who have never received any form of vaccination.

Mr Mohammed disclosed that the state had received a total of 2.5 million doses of the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (NOPV) for the campaign.

He added that 160 monitors, including representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs), have been engaged to ensure a smooth and effective exercise.

He also noted that the state commissioner for health, the Emir of Dass, himself, and UNICEF’s chief of Bauchi Field Office would be conducting special monitoring in three local government areas (LGAs) of Ganjuwa, Bauchi, and Ningi.

This, he said, was where locations with huge populations of zero-dose children aimed to ensure full compliance.

“We are moving with security personnel from the State Security Service (SSS) and the police, equipped with armoured vehicles, to ensure adequate security and cooperation.

“This campaign will not be conducted as it was in the past, where we had to beg and plead. This time, it is compulsory. All children must be vaccinated, and anyone who refuses to cooperate will be arrested,” he said.

Mr Mohammed commended UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the state government for their substantial efforts and counterpart funding to support the campaign and broader social mobilisation.

“We are concerned about non-compliance in some areas because we do not want to miss a single child. Even in insecure areas, we will deploy security to ensure that every child is reached,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Nuzhat Rafique, chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the state in its efforts to ensure every child is immunised.

Represented by Eki George, UNICEF’s head of social behaviour change, Ms Rafique noted that more development partners were involved in this year’s campaign to guarantee total compliance.

“As part of our preparations, we supported the state to ensure the smooth rollout of this campaign, particularly here in Bauchi, which is our focus,” she said. “We are working closely with the government to reach every parent, regardless of location, to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.”

The district head of Tirwun, Muhammad Tirwun, commended UNICEF and its partners for their support.

He also urged traditional rulers to take an active role in monitoring the campaign to ensure full participation and compliance across communities. 

(NAN)