GOMBE, UNICEF LAUNCH FIRST POLIO IMMUNISATION DRIVE OF 2026

Read Time:3 Minute, 33 Second

By: Balogun Ibrahim

The Chief of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, on Monday reaffirmed the commitment of partners and the Gombe State Government to eradicate polio as the state launched its first immunisation campaign of 2026.

Speaking to journalists after an evening review meeting on the ongoing exercise, Dr. Rafique said, “This is the first polio campaign of 2026 in Gombe, and it will be very rigorous. It is crucial for Nigeria to eradicate polio soon and become fully polio-free. Gombe is making every effort to reach that goal.”

She also praised the state government for its dedication to the campaign.

She expressed gratitude to the Executive Governor of Gombe State and his team for their strong commitment to the campaign, noting, “The Executive Secretary and I attended the evening review meeting, which reflects the high level of dedication.”

Dr. Rafique said the campaign, which began following flag-off activities at the state and local government levels, was already showing steady progress.

“We have reached many hard-to-reach areas, and the teams are covering the LGAs effectively. The completion rate of settlements is increasing daily. This is a five-day campaign, and we anticipate even greater progress in days three, four, and five,” she added.

Dr. Rafique highlighted that essential components of the campaign, including staff training, community engagement, and social mobilisation, have been effectively carried out.

“The involvement of traditional leaders and emirs has been outstanding. Flag-off ceremonies were held in their palaces, and they are actively leading the campaign alongside the government and partners,” she said.

She also outlined UNICEF’s role, noting that the organisation has provided substantial logistical and technical support.

“UNICEF, together with other partners, is a key supporter of polio campaigns. We have supplied over 965,000 doses of polio vaccines, which have been safely distributed across all LGAs through the state’s primary healthcare system,” she stated.

Dr. Rafique added that the campaign targets approximately 771,000 children in the state, including over 50,000 “zero-dose” children who have never received any vaccination.

“We must reach every child. The government is taking the lead, and UNICEF and other partners are supporting to ensure no child is left behind,” she said.

Regarding observed discrepancies in field operations, she explained that such findings are part of ongoing efforts to improve campaign quality.

“In every campaign, we set very high standards. Gombe is doing an excellent job, and vaccinators are performing well, but there is always room for improvement. These observations help us refine strategies and enhance both coverage and quality,” Dr. Rafique explained.

Speaking as well, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu, said extensive advocacy had been conducted at all levels.

“We have carried out advocacy at the state, local government, and ward levels, engaging traditional and religious leaders, media organisations, women’s groups, and youth groups,” he said.

Acknowledging the challenge of vaccine resistance in some communities, he added, “There are still pockets of non-compliance, not just in Gombe but across the country. We continue to sensitise communities and work closely with religious and traditional leaders to educate people on the importance of vaccination.”

Dr. Shuaibu emphasised that vaccines are safe, free, and effective in preventing disease.

“We have observed improvements over the years in vaccine acceptance, which has also strengthened routine immunisation coverage across the state,” he added.

On the recruitment of vaccination personnel, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu explained that community-based selection helps ensure trust and effectiveness.

“Each team is made up of three members chosen by local committees within their communities. These individuals are trusted, familiar with their environment, and receive training along with daily refresher sessions throughout the campaign,” he said.

He added that community leaders are actively involved in addressing vaccine resistance.

“In our recent review meeting, we invited religious leaders, councillors, and community representatives from areas with non-compliance. Their participation helps build trust and improve acceptance,” he noted.

Dr. Shuaibu revealed that the state is targeting over 900,000 children aged 0–59 months in the current campaign round.

“We expect to achieve over 95 per cent coverage by the end of the exercise,” he added.