….First Lady Zulaihat Radda Leads Call for Renewed Action to Protect Every Child
By ABDULLAHI INUWA
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting Katsina State and Nigeria at large in the global mission to eradicate polio, declaring that “the fight is not over until every child is protected.”
This pledge was made by Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Fatima Adamu, Child Protection Specialist, during the World Polio Day Commemoration Town Hall Meeting organized by the First Lady of Katsina State, Hajiya Zulaihat Abdullahi Dikko Umar Radda, at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Katsina.
The event, attended by key stakeholders including the Katsina State Commissioner of Health, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua, and the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr. Shamsuddeen Yahaya, drew together development partners, polio survivors, parents, caregivers, and media representatives.
“Polio Eradication Is Within Reach — But the Fight Is Not Over”
In his address, Mr. Farah emphasized that while significant progress has been achieved in the fight against polio, complete eradication requires continued collective effort and political will.
“Polio eradication is truly within our reach, but success depends on our collective resolve to sustain momentum. Political commitment, high-quality vaccination campaigns, and unwavering community engagement are essential,” he said.
He revealed that Katsina State had made commendable progress, with reported cases of poliovirus dropping from 17 cases across eight local government areas in 2024 to just two in 2025, both in Danmusa Local Government Area.
“This is a testament to the power of coordinated action,” he added, “yet transmission has not been fully interrupted. We cannot afford complacency now.”
Reiterating the preventable nature of the disease, Mr. Farah stressed that “polio can cause irreversible paralysis and can be fatal, but it is entirely preventable through safe and effective vaccines.”
He called for intensified immunization efforts targeting children in remote, underserved, and conflict-affected areas, noting that closing immunity gaps was key to protecting every child from the crippling disease.
“Our immunization campaigns must reach every child. Strengthening routine immunization is non-negotiable if we are to protect our children from polio and other preventable diseases,” he declared.
The UNICEF representative also cautioned against the dangers of misinformation and rumours that hinder vaccination drives, reaffirming that “the safety and efficacy of polio vaccines are beyond question — they remain our strongest defence against paralysis and death.”
In a passionate appeal, Mr. Farah urged wives of Local Government Chairmen in Katsina State to take up leadership roles in sensitizing mothers and caregivers about the importance of vaccination.
> “You are not just mothers to your biological children but to all children in your respective LGAs,” he said. “Lead by example. Encourage your husbands to allocate and release resources for vaccination campaigns and to personally monitor progress during review meetings.”
He underscored that community mobilization and female leadership remain critical to ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated.
Mr. Farah warned that any lapse in the fight against polio could reverse decades of global progress.
“Now is not the time to step back. The final steps toward eradication are the most critical and the most challenging. Pausing or scaling back efforts would expose vulnerable communities to resurgence,” he said.
He called on the government to maintain robust surveillance systems for faster detection and response to outbreaks, ensuring that children are protected as quickly as possible.
In his concluding remarks, the UNICEF Chief reiterated the agency’s commitment to partnering with the Katsina State Government and other members of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to eliminate polio once and for all.
“Polio eradication is within reach. With the right actions today, we can make it the second human disease ever eradicated — and protect children for generations to come,” he said. “We’ve come too far to turn back. Let’s finish the job and make polio history.”
The World Polio Day commemoration served as a powerful reminder of both progress achieved and the urgent work still required to secure a polio-free future for all children in Katsina State, Nigeria, and beyond.
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