The Jigawa government says it has targeted 1.5 million children for vaccination against killer diseases in the November round of the vaccination exercise.

Shehu Sambo, executive secretary of the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said this at a media dialogue on Tuesday in Dutse.

The event is being organised by the state with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Represented by Nura Ado, assistant health educator, Sambo said 1,516,244 children would be inoculated in the exercise between November 27 and December 3.

He said the immunisation exercise would be conducted alongside the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) week, during which health services would be provided to pregnant women.

About 2,015 ad hoc teams had been deployed for the exercise across the state’s 27 local government areas.

Mr Sambo urged the media to ensure effective coverage of the exercise to clear misconceptions among caregivers.

Rahama Farah, chief of the UNICEF Field Office, Kano, commended Jigawa for recording a 58 per cent reduction in polio cases in 2024.

According to Ms Farah, polio remains a concern, with 72 cases reported in 14 states in 2025.

While underscoring the need to strengthen coverage, Ms Farah urged local government councils to closely monitor the exercise to ensure its successful implementation.

He also called for collective stakeholder responsibility to end polio transmission in Jigawa and across the country.

Firdaus Aminu, representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, commended Jigawa for ensuring effective mobilisation for the exercise.

She pledged the agency’s support to facilitate the smooth conduct of the exercise.

(NAN)