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By: Aliyu Inuwa
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on journalists and media houses to take the frontline in mobilizing parents and communities ahead of the October Integrated Polio and Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign in Katsina State.
Speaking at a Media Dialogue in Katsina, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Rahama Rihood M. Farah, said the media has a “crucial role” in ensuring that every eligible child is reached during the statewide exercise.
The campaign, slated for October 6–13, 2025, will see 2.3 million children under five receive the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2), while 4.8 million children aged 9 months to 14 years will be immunized against measles and rubella.
Thousands Mobilized for the Campaign
To achieve this, UNICEF revealed that:
2,253 vaccination teams will be deployed across Katsina State using fixed and temporary posts.
5,584 routine immunization teams will provide other antigens, including 3,761 house-to-house teams, 993 transit teams, and 830 fixed post teams.
3,300 health workers have been trained on improved interpersonal skills.
600 Non-Compliance Resolution Teams (NCRTs), made up of traditional leaders, community influencers, and vaccinators, will handle resistance cases in real time.
4,647 Voluntary Community Mobilizers (VCMs) and 462 Ward Supervisors will take part in community outreach.
Farah expressed concern over insecurity in 20 of 34 LGAs, which has hampered vaccination coverage. He stressed that LGA chairmen must take ownership of the campaign by holding regular review meetings and ensuring security for vaccination teams.
Katsina State recorded two new cases of variant polio virus in Danmusa LGA in 2025, compared to 17 cases across eight LGAs in 2024, with Batsari LGA hardest hit.
Call to Action for the Media
“Vaccines are free, safe, and effective,” Farah declared, urging the media to counter misinformation and mobilize caregivers.
> “The October campaign presents another opportunity for us to work towards eradicating polio. Everyone has a role to play, including the media,” he said.
With Nigeria still battling sporadic outbreaks of the polio virus, UNICEF insists Katsina cannot afford to fall behind in the global push to wipe out the disease once and for all.
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