The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sokoto field office, has expressed concern over the refusal of about 3,000 households to allow their children to receive the polio vaccine during the recent immunisation exercise in Sokoto State, Kebbi, and Zamfara.

Michael Juma, UNICEF chief of field office in Sokoto, raised the concern while speaking to journalists in Sokoto on Friday, as part of activities marking the 2025 World Polio Day celebration.

Mr Juma said that while tremendous progress had been made in improving immunisation coverage across the three states, efforts must be intensified to ensure that no child is left behind.

“We’ve just completed an integrated polio, measles-rubella, and HPV campaign, reaching about 5.3 million children across the three states, which is a remarkable achievement,” Mr Juma said.

He said that the current task was to reach non-compliant households through stronger community mobilisation, the use of trusted voices, and continued political support.

Mr Juma commended the state governments for their strong political commitment and active surveillance.

He, however, stressed the need for the stakeholders, including the media, to strengthen social mobilisation and counter misinformation to build public trust and ensure that every child receives life-saving vaccines.

According to him, youth advocacy remains key to raising awareness of the importance of immunisation, adding that polio is preventable when communities act together.

Also speaking, the Sokoto State commissioner for health, Faruk Wurno, said the commemoration of World Polio Day in the state reflected a renewed determination to keep Sokoto polio-free.

Mr Wurno explained that the recent vaccination exercise in Sokoto recorded tremendous success, with 19 out of 23 local government areas  achieving 90 per cent coverage.

“We have achieved great success, with 19 LGAs passing the global rating.

“For the remaining four underperforming LGAs — Bodinga, Shagari, Sokoto South, and Wamakko — the government will ensure continuous vigilance, effective surveillance, and sustained routine immunisation,” he said.

He, however, pointed out that Sokoto’s proximity to border communities was still posing the risk of cross-border transmission of the poliovirus.

Mr Wurno disclosed that the state government was strengthening its primary health care (PHC) system by deploying 209 qualified midwives to 109 PHC centres across the state and enforcing a two-year rural posting policy for new health workers.

“Our goal is simple: protect every child, strengthen our communities, and keep Sokoto polio-free,” he emphasised.

The commissioner appreciated UNICEF, other development partners, and traditional and religious leaders for their sustained commitment to keeping the state free from the poliovirus.

The 2025 day was celebrated with the theme, ‘A Healthy Future for Every Child: Let’s End Polio Together’.

(NAN)