By Muhammad Jamil Abubakar
The Gombe State Government, in partnership with UNICEF and other development agencies, have officially launched the 2025 round of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign, aimed at eradicating polio and strengthening public health systems across the state.
The campaign was flagged off at a well-attended ceremony held at the Kuri District Head Palace in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area.
Representing Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Task Force on Immunisation, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and protecting children from preventable diseases.
He stressed the urgency of addressing the threat posed by circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2), which has seen five recent detections.
“Every child missed is a potential case,” he warned, urging community wide participation to close immunization gaps.
He called on religious and traditional leaders to actively combat vaccine hesitancy, especially in remote and underserved areas, and encouraged residents to make use of the free health services provided during the campaign.
The decision to launch the campaign in Kuri was based on concerning data showing low immunization coverage in the area, particularly among zero-dose children those who have never received any vaccine. Health officials described the situation as dangerous and a significant threat to public health.
Traditional leaders including the Emir of Yamaltu, Abubakar Aliyu, and the Emir of Deba, Alhaji Ahmad Usman Mohammed, pledged their support to the campaign and commended the state government, development partners, and healthcare workers for their continued efforts.
Speaking at the event, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique raised concern over high numbers of unreached children in Gombe.
She highlighted four local government areas of Dukku, Kwami, Funakaye, and Yamaltu-Deba as high-risk zones where immunization coverage remains critically low.
Dr. Nuzhat who was represented by UNICEF Health Officer Oluseyi Olusunde emphasized that while Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus persist.
She called for intensified efforts to eliminate noncompliance among parents and urged traditional rulers to address misinformation surrounding vaccines.
Also delivering a goodwill message, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, warned against the resurgence of preventable diseases if immunization campaigns are not sustained.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s polio eradication efforts, expressing optimism that polio would be completely eliminated by the end of 2025.
Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, reassured parents of the safety and effectiveness of the oral polio vaccine, urging stakeholders to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.
“Immunizing your child protects them from multiple life-threatening diseases,” he stated.
The NIPDs campaign will span across all 11 LGAs in Gombe State and is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of children under five with life-saving polio vaccines and additional healthcare services.
