Zamfara Monarch flags off polio immunization In Gusau
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
The Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, on Sunday June 15, 2025, flagged off polio immunization at his palace, calling on parents to allow their wards to be immunized against the dreaded disease.
He also directed all the districts and village heads within his Emirate to make sure that they facilitate the programme in their areas.
The monarch also expressed his satisfaction over partnership between Zamfara State government and the UNICEF to ensure that children under the age of five have been immunized in the state.
Alhaji Ibrahim Bello also emphasized the need to reform the decisions of the UNICEF so that the immunizer can go all nock and crannies in the state and discharge his duty at ease.
According to him, UNICEF should provide support to parents like rice and any other foodstuffs by doing so mothers would be encouraged to leave their domestic work and carry their children for immuzation.
“UNICEF should expand what will encourage parents and something particularly by providing a variety of nutrition that will overcome to prevent their children.”
He needs parents to add a force to ensure that their children have received polio vaccine in the state.
In his own speech, the OIC/Chief of Field Office UNICEF, Sokoto Field Office, Isah Muhammad Maru, thanked the Zamfara state government for the continued support towards eradicating Polio viruses in the state.
He said, “Through our united efforts, we have achieved remarkable progress in the fight against polio. However, we must acknowledge that significant challenges remain, demanding our immediate and focused attention to ensure that no child is left behind.
“To defeat poliovirus, 95 per cent of all children below the age of five need to receive the Oral Polio Vaccine in at least three consecutive polio vaccination roundsIn many parts of Nigeria, a critical number of children are missed in every polio vaccine round leading to continued circulation of the virus.
He however said that, to keep polioviruses away, childhood immunization coverage needs to be optimal.
He further explained that, according to the 2023 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Penta 3 coverage of Zamfara state is 25 per cent, and out of the 14 LGAs of the state, 6 LGAs of the state (Gummi, Gusau, Bungudu, Maru, Kaura Namoda, and Talata Mafara) are among the 100 LGAs in Nigeria that have a significant percentage of zero-dose children.
“We must believe that there are great challenges, we are looking for emergency care and focus to make sure that a child is not left behind.
“We invite you to find a true belief from secure health experts and community leaders, the role of all the advances, do you make donating to the development of our people”. Isah Ibrahim said.
