Kano targets polio eradication in four months – Gov Yusuf

• 250,000 children yet to collect vaccine in Kano – UNICEF

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

Amid rising polio cases in Kano State, Governor Alhaji Abba Yusuf has expressed his administration’s determination to eradicate the disease by June 2025 and reduce the high rate of maternal mortality within the same period.

Reports indicate that polio cases have been increasing in Kano State since 2022. However, Governor Yusuf stated that tackling these two health challenges is a priority that his government will pursue to its logical conclusion.

He made this known while declaring open an orientation training organised by the state Ministry of Health for its health personnel, 44 local government chairmen and the Kano Emirate in Kaduna over the weekend.

Represented by the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, Yusuf said the presence of government officials, members of the state House of Assembly and Kano Emirate underscored the seriousness of the campaign to eradicate polio and address maternal mortality.

The Deputy Governor, who also serves as the Chairman of the State Immunisation Committee, urged health personnel, local government officials and traditional rulers to monitor the immunisation exercise in their domains with the seriousness it deserves.

He challenged health workers to dedicate themselves to the effort, warning that those who are not committed would be replaced without delay.

“Any health worker who is not committed will be replaced without delay with a more serious and committed staff,” he warned.

He reiterated that the state government, under Governor Abba Yusuf’s leadership, is determined to make Kano polio-free by June 2025 and will fully support the nationwide eradication campaign.

Earlier, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Kano State representative, Mr Rahma Rahood Muhammad, noted a steady increase in polio cases in the state between 2022 and 2025.

“Children of Kano State are still falling prey to the poliovirus, and many are yet to receive any routine vaccines.

“Vaccines are one of the most effective and cost-saving public health interventions in history. Yet, nearly 250,000 children in Kano State are zero-dosed (yet to collect a vaccine).

“I will give you four examples: in 2022, we saw six reported cases of poliovirus. In 2023, this number increased to 27. In 2024, the number now stands at 29 cases. This is almost a fivefold increase since 2020.”

Speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to tackling polio and reducing maternal mortality rates.

“The method of MAMII introduced by the Federal Government is equally what is driving the Kano State Government.

“We got the message about MAMII from the Federal Government, and it reminds us of how much work we have to do to sustain the momentum.

“Kano State is aware that Nigeria aims to reduce maternal mortality by 30% in the next three years, and the state government is committed to achieving this target, if not exceeding it.”

The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, reiterated the government’s commitment to minimising maternal deaths in the state.

Providing a briefing after the inaugural meeting of the Free Maternal and Neonatal Child Health Committee, he emphasised the importance of prioritising maternal health, aligning with the Federal Government’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) project.

The Kano State Government has since launched a free maternity programme for all expectant mothers, which includes free caesarean sections, free deliveries and free delivery kits on a monthly basis at state-owned healthcare facilities.

“We are going to create more awareness by extending our campaign to rural communities, ensuring that people understand the importance of visiting hospitals and that these services are free. We will also ensure that all necessary items for the services are always readily available in our facilities.

“Our revolutionary supervision visits are aimed at eliminating delays in intervention and ensuring patient satisfaction. We will evaluate our reporting system and implement all necessary initiatives targeting overall reduction in maternal mortality,” Nagoda stated.