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Following a rise in reported polio cases in states bordering Niger State, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA) have appealed to parents and guardians to allow their children receive vaccination in the ongoing immunisation campaign.
The vaccination exercise scheduled for 25 local government areas of the state is said to be part of efforts to curb the spread of polio and strengthen public awareness about the disease.
A Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist with UNICEF Field Office Kaduna, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed, made the appeal during a one-day media parley held in Minna, the state capital.
He reviewed the current polio situation in Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara and Sokoto States, stressing the urgent need to vaccinate children within the eligible age group.
Dr Mohammed described polio as a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five and can lead to paralysis or death.
He warned that the high number of cases recorded in neighbouring states places children in Niger State at increased risk if they are not vaccinated promptly.
According to him, ” There is no cure for polio. Immunisation remains the most effective means of prevention, we are urging parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the vaccine”.
He explained that multiple doses are required for full immunity, pointing out that missed vaccinations could contribute to the continued spread of the disease.
Other speakers at the media parley also emphasised the importance of community participation and sustained awareness to ensure the success of the immunisation campaign.
Polio Threat: Niger govt, UNICEF urge mass immunisation of children
