Kaduna State Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases, as it intensifies immunization efforts across the state.
The renewed push comes as activities marking World Immunization Week 2026 and African Vaccination Week 2026 conclude, with authorities highlighting progress and setting new targets.
A Health Educator with the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Isa Yusheu, disclosed that the state is set to commence the second round of its polio outbreak response campaign.
“We are about to commence the second round of the polio outbreak response, and we are working closely with the media and other stakeholders to ensure maximum coverage,” he said.
Yusheu attributed Kaduna’s success in immunization coverage to sustained government commitment and strategic partnerships involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media, and community groups.
According to him, the state ranks among the top performers in immunization coverage in northern Nigeria.
“The role of vaccination can never be overemphasized. It helps to prevent serious illnesses and reduce deaths, especially among children,” he noted.
Over 2.8 Million Children Reached
“We targeted about 2.7 million children, but we were able to reach over 2.8 million, achieving more than 100 percent coverage.”
He explained that the current campaign targets children aged zero to 59 months, while routine immunization ensures that every child receives all required vaccines before the age of two.
Despite the gains, the state continues to face challenges, particularly vaccine hesitancy among some caregivers and insecurity in certain areas.
“We still have some missed children due to non-compliance and security challenges, but efforts are ongoing to reach them,” he added.
The state government is urging media organisations to intensify public sensitization efforts, while calling on healthcare workers to sustain quality service delivery.
“We want the media to help mobilize caregivers and for health workers to maintain the trust people have in the system,” Yusheu said.
Kaduna State says it remains committed to ensuring that every eligible child is vaccinated, as it pushes toward eliminating preventable childhood diseases.
