The Kano State Government has vowed to eliminate polio by June 2025, despite a recent surge in cases.
Governor Abba Yusuf made this commitment during an orientation training in Kaduna on Saturday, organised by the state’s Ministry of Health for health personnel, 44 local government chairmen, and traditional rulers.
The training, held at Hotel Seventeen, aimed to equip stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and strategies to combat polio and reduce maternal mortality in the state.
Yusuf, represented by Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, emphasised the government’s strong commitment to tackling polio and maternal deaths.
‘The presence of government officials, including members of the State House of Assembly and the Kano Emirate, underscores the seriousness we attach to eradicating polio and reducing maternal mortality,’ Gwarzo stated.
As Chairman of the State Immunisation Committee, Gwarzo directed health workers, local government officials, and traditional rulers to ensure effective monitoring of the immunisation exercise in their respective
domains.
‘The state government, under the leadership of Abba Yusuf, is determined to make Kano polio-free in the next four months. We will actively support efforts to achieve complete eradication by the end of the year,’ he said.
He further warned health workers that any lack of commitment to the immunisation campaign would not be tolerated.
‘Any health worker who is not committed will be replaced without delay with a more serious and dedicated staff member,’ he added.
However, despite the state government’s ambitious target, the United Nations Children’s Fund has raised concerns over the increasing number of polio cases in Kano.
According to UNICEF’s Kano State Representative, Rahma Rahood Muhammad, polio cases have surged from six in 2022 to 29 in 2024, marking a fivefold increase since 2020.
‘Children in Kano State are still falling prey to the polio virus, and many have yet to receive any routine vaccines,’ Muhammad said.
He highlighted that nearly 250,000 children in Kano have not received any vaccine doses, despite immunisation being one of the most effective and cost-saving public health interventions.
‘In 2022, we recorded six polio cases. By 2023, the number rose to 27. In 2024, it now stands at 29. This is an alarming increase,’ he added.
In addition to polio eradication, the Kano State Government has adopted the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), introduced by the Federal Government to reduce maternal mortality by 30% within three years.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, reaffirmed Kano’s commitment to this goal.
‘The MAMII initiative is driving our efforts in Kano. We recognise that Nigeria aims to reduce maternal mortality by 30% in the next three years, and we are determined to match, if not exceed, that target,’ he said.
The state government’s dual focus on polio eradication and maternal health improvement has drawn praise from stakeholders, including UNICEF, which commended the administration’s commitment to tackling critical health challenges.
