Katsina State has announced an ambitious plan to vaccinate about 2.8 million children under the age of five during a statewide immunisation campaign scheduled for November.
The exercise, organised in partnership with UNICEF, was disclosed on Thursday in Katsina by Mukhtar Mahmud, a director at the State Primary Health Care Agency.
Mr Mahmud said the campaign goes beyond routine vaccination and represents a broader effort to safeguard the health and future of children across the state.
“As we prepare to launch this campaign, we invite the public to join us in this noble endeavour. Together, we can protect our children and build a healthier future for Katsina State,” he said.
The campaign will cover all 34 local government areas, deploying door-to-door teams, fixed posts and mobile units to ensure no eligible child is left out.
Aside from polio and routine vaccines, health workers will also administer Azithromycin for child health, vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets, and nutritional support for pregnant women.
The state government said it has intensified stakeholder engagement, training of health workers and social mobilisation to ensure the exercise runs smoothly.
Officials urged residents to cooperate with vaccinators, noting that community participation remains crucial to achieving full coverage.
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UNICEF’s role
The Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Rahama Farah, said the agency continues to prioritise media engagement because of the sector’s influence in driving vaccination uptake.
Mr Farah added that the campaign will also provide “protein immunisation and other essential services.”
According to him, UNICEF and the state have deployed 6,300 health workers across facilities, along with 600 non-compliance resolution teams to address resistance in communities. He said 87 voluntary survivor groups and 4,749 voluntary community mobilisers will also support the exercise.
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