The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) has inaugurated a house-to-house polio vaccination campaign to protect children from the debilitating effects of the poliovirus.

The campaign marks the commemoration of the Integrated 2025 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) and African Vaccination Week (AVW).

While inaugurating the campaign on Saturday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adeiza, emphasised that vaccines save lives.

He highlighted that the key objective of the campaign was to increase immunisation coverage and reduce vaccine-preventable diseases.

Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dorcas Enehe, Mr Adeiza urged parents and caregivers to welcome vaccinators and ensured their children were protected through vaccination.

The commissioner stressed that the campaign focused on prevention, protection, and the collective future of Kogi’s children, urging everyone to work together to keep polio out of the state.

Earlier, Executive Director of KSPHCDA, Dr Musa Muazu, emphasised the importance of immunisation in saving lives and building healthier communities.

He explained that the campaign, scheduled to run from April 26 to 29, targeted children, aged 0 to 59 months, with the aim of ensuring that no eligible child was left unvaccinated.

Mr Muazu also lauded the efforts of frontline health workers, community mobilisers, partners, and volunteers who had made the campaign possible.

He reiterated the importance of ensuring equitable immunisation, stating that no child should miss out on vaccines due to their location or background.

Representatives from partner organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, and NPHCDA reaffirmed their commitment to ensure vaccination of every eligible child in Kogi State.

Traditional leaders, including the Ohiegba of Mozum, HRH King Bukar Khalid, also pledged support to encourage the community to ensure full participation in the exercise.

(NAN)