By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO — The Sokoto State Government has intensified efforts to eliminate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated as Nigeria sustains its national drive toward complete polio eradication.

The Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA), Dr. Bilaminu Yari, gave the assurance on Tuesday at an end-of-year media parley and stakeholders’ dinner organised by the Sokoto State Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) in collaboration with the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), the Africa Field Epidemiology Network, with support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).

Dr. Yari stressed that polio and other routine vaccines remain safe, effective and critical to child survival, urging parents and caregivers to embrace immunisation as a shared responsibility in safeguarding public health.

He disclosed that targeted strategies are being implemented to address zero-dose cases across 13 local government areas of the state, adding that the expansion of primary healthcare infrastructure remains central to the intervention.

According to him, the number of primary health facilities in Sokoto has increased from 244 to 384, significantly improving access to basic healthcare services, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.

“We are bringing healthcare closer to the people because we do not want any child to be left behind. Immunisation is free, safe and available in all health facilities across the state. Parents, guardians and caregivers must ensure their children receive life-saving vaccines against the five major childhood killer diseases,” he said.

Dr. Yari commended AHBN and other development partners for their sustained support toward ending polio and strengthening outbreak preparedness in Sokoto and Nigeria at large.

Earlier, the Sokoto State Focal Person of AHBN, Umar Garba Khadi, noted that the state, with the active engagement of the Committee of Practice (CoP), has recorded significant progress in advocacy, policy influence and improved health budgeting.

Corroborating the assessment, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AHBN, Dr. Aminu Garba Magashi, praised the Sokoto State Government for the recent release of ₦356 million to support health service delivery, describing it as a strong signal of political will in the fight against polio and other public health threats.

Stakeholders at the media parley identified persistent challenges, including vaccine non-compliance, particularly within some elite communities, security concerns, and delays in the release of health budgetary allocations.

They agreed that addressing these gaps remains critical to achieving and sustaining a polio-free Sokoto and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s national health security goals.