Immunization: Kaduna, UNICEF tasks Media to become Ambassadors

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), convened a media dialogue to strengthen collaboration with journalists and social media influencers in the fight against polio and to promote routine immunization across the state.

The engagement which held in Kaduna on Thursday, emphasized the critical role the media plays in building public trust and countering misinformation, especially on health issues.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the SPHCB, Dr. Bello Jamoh, the State Incident Manager, Dr. Abdullahi Garba, while welcoming participants, underscored the importance of accurate information in public health communication.

“The Executive Secretary had earnestly wished to be here in person but was unavoidably called upon by His Excellency for other state duties,” Dr. Garba stated.

“The purpose of today’s engagement is straightforward but powerful: Information is power. But not just any information, the right information. When it comes to health, especially immunization, misinformation can cost lives.”

He emphasized the responsibility of the media to verify information before dissemination and encouraged them to act as risk communicators who can promote facts, not fear.

“You are one of our most important stakeholders. Your platforms have the reach and influence to correct misinformation and share credible, timely, and relevant updates with the public,” he said.

Dr. Garba urged participants to support the HealthONE initiative, which operates on the principle that health for one is health for all, and to use their platforms to encourage vaccine uptake in communities.

In a sobering update, Dr. Idris Baba, Officer in Charge at the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, outlined the persistent threat of poliovirus transmission in Nigeria, despite years of progress.

Dr. Baba noted that while circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) detections dropped from 166 in 2023 to 122 in 2024, the number of children paralyzed by the virus rose to 98 in the same period, an alarming increase over the past three years.

He disclosed that as of Week 19 in 2025, 25 new detections of poliovirus were reported across 9 states and 19 local government areas (LGAs), mostly in northern Nigeria, including a detection in Oyo State and a Type 3 poliovirus case in Yobe.

“We’ve seen tremendous gains globally between 1988 and 2021, the oral polio vaccine prevented 24 million cases of childhood paralysis. But polio is still circulating in Nigeria, and that puts everyone at risk,” Dr. Baba warned.

He stressed that 95% of children under age five must be vaccinated in each round to break transmission, highlighting that many children in Kaduna State still remain unvaccinated.

“According to the 2023 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Kaduna has one of the highest percentages of zero-dose children, those who have never received a single routine immunization vaccine,” he added.

Low immunization coverage, poor sanitation, and high rates of malnutrition continue to contribute to polio persistence in the state.

Dr. Baba praised the commitment shown during the April 2025 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) and urged sustained efforts. He particularly commended some LGA chairmen who used personal resources to support the campaign.

“We encourage all LGAs to release counterpart funding for the upcoming June polio campaign and to hold local flag-off events led by chairmen and their spouses,” he said.

He also addressed a national concern: Nigerian pilgrims are still required to take the Oral Polio Vaccine before traveling for Hajj, a sign that the world sees Nigeria as a polio-affected country.

“This embarrassment must end. No child in Kaduna or Nigeria should live with the threat of paralysis from a preventable disease,” he stated.

The dialogue concluded with a strong message to the media: your voices matter. Over 400 media mentions were generated during April’s immunization activities, driven largely by strategic engagement and human-centered storytelling.

The focus going forward is to amplify stories of parental acceptance and positive deviance—cases where individuals or communities defy the odds to ensure their children are vaccinated.

“We must outnumber misinformation with stories that inspire. Together, we can ensure every child is protected, every caregiver is informed, and no one is left behind,” Dr. Baba said.

The media dialogue marks a renewed partnership, with a shared goal to end poliovirus transmission in Kaduna and across Nigeria by the end of 2025.