The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the Kano State Radio Corporation to promote polio immunization awareness and action in Nigeria and Africa through a song titled “No More Zero Dose.”
This initiative aims to eradicate polio, a viral disease that once caused widespread paralysis among children worldwide. Since 1988, polio cases have decreased by 99%, but thousands of children remain unvaccinated.
UNICEF’s Kano Field Office Chief, Rahama Farah, emphasized the song’s importance in highlighting West and Central Africa’s urgent need for increased immunization coverage. Nigeria faces challenges in vaccinating eligible children, particularly in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina
Speaking during the event, the Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Rahama Farah, noted that, the song sheds light on the urgent and critical need for increased immunization coverage in West and Central Africa, a region that has had multiple outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria, measles, polio, yellow fever, cerebrospinal meningitis among others.
He explained that Nigeria, despite the progress made in improving Immunization, continues to face challenges in getting all eligible children vaccinated, citing example of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states with a total record of 556,750 Zero Dose children.
Farah therefore sought for the support of the various stakeholders present at the event to spread the message on the importance of Immunization and getting every child under five fully immunized.
While appreciating the government of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states for their efforts at improving immunization, he tasked them to put more efforts into strengthening the healthcare system, including routine immunization, and extending basic healthcare services to every wards in the states.
Meanwhile the song was launched by the Kano state commissioner of health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf who reiterated government commitment to strengthening immunization process in the state.
He stressed that, under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, they have embarked on huge number of initiatives, projects and interventions being implemented in the sector to improved health service delivery across the state.
The song features renowned artists from Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Cameroon and Guinea, including Cobhams, Waje and Ali Nuhu. Kano State Commissioner of Health Dr. Labaran Yusuf launched the song, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening immunization under Governor Abba Yusuf’s leadership
