Kano partners FG, Gates, Dangote Foundations on tackling poliovirus, maternal mortality
By KEMI KASUMU
Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner with the Federal Government in eradicating vaccine-derived poliovirus in the state.
Governor Yusuf equally indicated readiness to sustain collaboration with the Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation to check lapses in fight against the virus.
A statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, on Wednesday February 19, 2025, said the Governor made the commitment while receiving the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development and representatives of the two foundations on courtesy visit at the Government House in Kano.
Governor Yusuf, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Faruq Umar Ibrahim, disclosed that the partnership became pertinent at a period when his administration was committed to improving the health population of Kano.
He reminded that while the administration celebrates successes recorded within a short period in office, he is not unaware of the challenges in the healthcare system, including polio and maternal and newborn mortality.
Yusuf vowed to redouble efforts on far-reaching immunization programmes to capture missing children, strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers, and improve supply chain management to achieve overall goals.
He added that his administration has restored counterparts’ funding on routine immunization to cover the zero dose inherited from the immediate past government and sustain investment in the Primary Health Care system.
Earlier, the Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, applauded the state government’s investment in health and expressed readiness to collaborate with development agencies to eradicate poliovirus in Kano state.
Professor Pate hinted that despite the efforts, the resurgence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus and fake fingermarking of children during immunization in campaigns in Kano is threatening the success recorded in the last 10 years.
He said the state government must ensure the proper selection of a working immunization teams and monitor the work closely while calling for the involvement of traditional leaders and relevant agencies to achieve total eradication.
The minister also indicated the commitment of the Federal government to support Kano with the supply of vaccines and provide emergency transportation and free treatment of emergency cases for pregnant mothers.
In his remark, the President, Global Development of the Gates Foundation Dr. Chris Elias reminded the gathering that the Foundation has signed MoU with Kano state government to help eradicate polio virus and strengthen routine immunization in 2012.
“We are now back to fight the circulating vaccine derived polio virus 10 years after we had recorded the last case of wild polio virus in Kano,” said Dr. Chris of Gates Foundation.
