The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Zamfara State Government and other stakeholders for maintaining a zero polio virus status in the state.
The commendation was given by Isah Ibrahim, Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, during a media dialogue on the Polio Outbreak Response Campaign held on Friday in Gusau.
“On behalf of UNICEF Nigeria, I want to congratulate the Zamfara government for sustaining a major milestone in the fight against polio 20 months without a single case of the virus.
“Let me thank the efforts of Governor Dauda Lawal, the Ministry of Health, and the Primary Health Care Board (PHCDB) for maintaining this success.
“We also appreciate support from other stakeholders, particularly the media, for their contributions during the April polio vaccination round,” he said.
Ibrahim noted that UNICEF is working towards ensuring every child receives the oral polio vaccine, with the aim of ending transmission of the virus by 2025.
“We are back today to seek your support for the June polio vaccination campaign, which will commence this Saturday. Our goal is to reach every child in the state with the oral polio vaccine,” he stated.
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He further explained that polio had left children paralysed for centuries until the oral vaccine was developed.
“I urge the media to help us reach every single caregiver in the state with the message to come together to retain Zamfara as a zero polio virus state.
“We also have the Day of the African Child coming up on 17 June. We hope that Zamfara will be able to mark the day by announcing to the world that it has successfully vaccinated all children under the age of five against the polio virus in this campaign,” he added.
Ibrahim also called on caregivers to allow health workers to administer the oral polio vaccine to their children at their doorsteps.
Also speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nafisa Maradun, reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to maintaining a polio-free status in the state.
Dr Maradun commended development partners, especially UNICEF, for their contributions, which she said were instrumental in achieving the state’s polio-free status.
She also acknowledged the support of local government council chairmen in the polio immunisation campaign, as well as traditional and religious leaders across the state.
The commissioner encouraged parents to make their children under five years of age available for the vaccination exercise.
