The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has enlisted the support of traditional rulers in Bauchi State to ensure widespread compliance with polio vaccination efforts.

During a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dass, Othman Usman, on Friday, Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF chief of the Bauchi field office, emphasised the crucial role traditional institutions play in encouraging polio vaccine uptake.

Ms Rafique thanked the Emir of Dass for his commitment to the well-being of children. She urged him to rally other traditional and community leaders and district heads to ensure all children were immunised.

She lauded Dass Local Government Area (LGA) for being free of zero-dose children and open defecation but noted that Bauchi lagged in key health indicators.

She stressed the importance of the upcoming polio campaign scheduled for 24-30 April as Nigeria’s final opportunity to eradicate polio.

Ms Rafique also offered support to visit non-compliant households to ensure all children received the vaccine.

In response, the Emir of Dass, who also chairs the Bauchi State Emirate Councils Committee on Health (BASECCOH), confirmed that traditional rulers had launched a renewed strategy for polio sensitisation.

He outlined plans for regular visits to health facilities by district heads to monitor the immunisation process and pledged that the emirate would actively supervise the campaign across the state.

The emir assured Ms Rafique of their commitment to eradicating polio in Bauchi.

(NAN)