By Idris Salisu, Gusau

GUSAU — The Zamfara State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched a fresh immunisation campaign targeting 1.4 million children across the state to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly polio.

Speaking during a media briefing in Gusau, the Incident Manager of the Zamfara State Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Murtala Salaudeen, said the exercise would adopt a house-to-house vaccination strategy to ensure all eligible children are reached.

He explained that the campaign is part of intensified efforts to curb the recent polio outbreak along the Kebbi–Sokoto–Zamfara axis, in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

According to him, 1,997 vaccination teams have been deployed across communities in the state to ensure no child is left out during the exercise.

The teams will administer the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children aged one to five years, while incentives such as noodles will be given to vaccinated children to encourage participation.

“We have strategised our operations with a house-to-house campaign to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated for a successful exercise,” Salaudeen said.

He disclosed that the immunisation campaign will begin on Saturday across the 14 local government areas of the state.

Salaudeen also revealed that new cases of poliomyelitis were recently recorded in Gummi and Tsafe local government areas, with three and one cases respectively.

He noted that 16 cases of polio were recorded in Zamfara in 2024, while no case was reported in 2025, stressing that the vaccine is safe and critical for protecting children.

“The vaccines are safe and have no harmful effects. They only protect our children from the dangers of the disease,” he said, urging parents to make their children available for vaccination.

In his remarks, UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, Sokoto Office, Malam Isah Ibrahim, assured the state government of the organisation’s continued support for child survival programmes.

He also called on parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders to support the campaign to ensure its success across the state.