KEY POINTS
- UNICEF convened a Mass Mobilisation Dialogue with journalists and influencers in Jigawa ahead of the March 28 campaign.
- The upcoming exercise targets over 1.5 million children under five in Jigawa alone.
- The nationwide campaign covers 42 million children across 21 states and the FCT.
Four days before a nationwide polio immunisation campaign kicks off, UNICEF and the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency gathered journalists and social media influencers in Dutse on Monday to make sure accurate information reaches communities ahead of the drive.
The Jigawa polio vaccination UNICEF dialogue, organised by UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, focused specifically on arming media practitioners with the facts they need to counter vaccine misinformation and mobilise parents before Saturday’s launch. The upcoming exercise will involve house-to-house visits and fixed vaccination posts, targeting over 1.5 million children under the age of five across the state.
UNICEF Jigawa State Team Leader Jibril Shu’aibu told attendees that the media’s role in this effort goes well beyond news coverage. “The media plays a vital role in disseminating accurate information about polio vaccination, and we urge them to support our efforts in reaching every child in Jigawa,” he said. Additionally, he confirmed that UNICEF has deployed facilitators, volunteers, and community mobilisers across the state to support the immunisation exercise on the ground.
Nigeria declared free but virus remnants persist
Despite Nigeria receiving a polio-free declaration from the World Health Organisation in August 2018, health officials say the work is far from finished. WHO Cluster Consultant Sabiu Muhd told the gathering that remnants of the virus remain active in parts of the country, and consequently, complacency now poses the biggest threat to the gains made over the past several years.
“We have made significant progress, but we must not be complacent. We need to ensure that every child is vaccinated to prevent the resurgence of polio,” Muhd said. Furthermore, he confirmed that the March 28 campaign forms part of a broader national exercise targeting 42 million children across 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with WHO committing vaccination teams and health workers to support the rollout.
Media representatives pledge support
Representatives of media organisations at the Jigawa polio vaccination UNICEF dialogue did not leave as passive observers. Instead, they pledged to disseminate accurate and timely information, actively counter misinformation circulating on social media, and help mobilise their communities in the days leading up to the campaign launch.
Health Education Officer Sani Yusuf of the JSPHCDA urged parents directly, telling them the vaccines are safe and effective. He also stressed that the agency remained committed to reaching every child in Jigawa regardless of location, noting that the house-to-house component of the exercise specifically targets children in communities that fixed vaccination posts might otherwise miss.
