Khadijah Aliyu
Parents and caregivers in Dawakin Kudu LGA , Kano State turned out in large numbers to ensure their children under five received the oral polio vaccine during the June 2025 immunization campaign.
The effort led to the successful vaccination of 95,746 children in the area.
The statewide campaign, which kicked off in Bunkure, aims to immunize 3.9 million children across all 44 local government areas in Kano State.
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A caregiver in Dawaki Ward shared how sensitization efforts by health officials and stakeholders helped dispel myths and reinforce the importance of vaccination.
“We were told during sensitization that polio can cripple the hands and legs and even cause death.That alone is enough reason not to miss the vaccine. The free noodles and sweets also encouraged us,” she said.
In Tsakuwa Ward, another caregiver, Harira Musa, commended religious and traditional leaders for raising awareness over the years. She said:
“I always prepare ahead of immunization days. I once missed the team because of my sister’s wedding, but the next day I heard they were in a nearby area, so I rushed there with my children.”
Speaking on the role of traditional rulers, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali, a representative of the Ward Head in Dawaki, emphasized their commitment to supporting immunization teams.
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“We accompany the teams, provide protection, and help resolve cases of resistance. We use town criers, mosque announcements, and public gatherings to educate people on the importance of the polio vaccine, we are also aware of UNICEF Interventions regarding Polio” he explained.
“When my daughter was born 25 years ago, I ensured she never missed any immunization. Today, she’s a mother of seven. The claim that the polio vaccine causes infertility is completely false.”
The Local Government Chief Community Officer (LCCO), Alhaji Shitu Sani, attributed the campaign’s success to the efforts of the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, development partners, and community stakeholders.
“The Compliance Resolution Team, made up of ward heads, trusted community members, health workers, and ZLGA staff, worked tirelessly across the 15 wards to ensure eligible children were vaccinated.”
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He noted that the use of respected community figures significantly reduced resistance and helped resolve challenges during the exercise.
“We achieved a lot in June 2025. The resolution teams were fully on the ground to address any issues that came up,” the LCCO added.
The successful turnout and high immunization figures reflect growing public trust in healthcare systems and community-driven campaigns by government relevant stakeholders as Dawakin Kudu is one of the zero dose LGAs in Kano state.
With sustained collaboration between government, traditional leaders,public and development partners such as UNICEF, WHO, AFENET, SCI among others, Kano State continues to make significant strides toward eradicating polio.