2025: Kano targets polio eradication by June 

Kano state hovernor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating polio and reducing maternal mortality by June 2025.

Speaking at an orientation training for health personnel, local government chairmen, and Kano Emirate over the weekend in Kaduna, Yusuf described the twin health challenges as a priority for his government.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, stressed that the presence of government officials, state lawmakers, and traditional leaders at the event underscored the seriousness of the state’s health campaign.

Gwarzo, who also chairs the State Immunization Committee, urged health workers, local government officials, and traditional rulers to closely monitor immunization exercises in their domains.

“Any health worker who is not committed will be replaced immediately with a more serious and dedicated staff,” he warned.

He assured residents that Kano is determined to be polio-free by June and will sustain the campaign to ensure the state remains free of the virus by year-end.

Despite the government’s commitment, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also  raised concerns over the rising polio cases in the state.

UNICEF Kano representative at the retreat, Rahma Rahood Muhammad, revealed that polio infections in Kano have increased significantly in recent years.

“In 2022, six cases were recorded. By 2023, this number jumped to 27. As of 2024, the figure now stands at 29, representing a fivefold increase since 2020,” he said.

Muhammad also disclosed that nearly 250,000 children in Kano remain unvaccinated, warning that the situation poses a serious public health risk.

“Vaccines are one of the most effective and cost-saving public health interventions. Yet, many children in Kano have not received any routine immunization,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the state government would adopt the Mothers and Maternal Infant Immunization (MAMII) strategy introduced by the federal government to combat polio and maternal mortality.

“We got the message about MAMII from the federal government, and it reminds us of how much work is needed to sustain the momentum,” he said.

Yusuf added that Kano is aligning with the federal government’s target of reducing maternal mortality by 30% in three years, stressing that the state would work to surpass this target.