The Kaduna State Government has commenced a polio vaccination campaign targeting between 1.3 million and 1.5 million children under the age of five across nine local government areas.
The sub-national immunisation exercise began on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and is expected to run for one week, covering 101 wards across the state.
The State Health Education Officer of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Isah Yushau, disclosed the development while explaining preparations for the exercise.
He said the campaign was designed to protect children against polio, particularly following the circulation of mutant poliovirus in neighbouring states and the detection of cases within Kaduna.
The nine targeted local government areas are Chikun, Igabi, Giwa, Kudan, Makarfi, Ikara, Soba, Sabon Gari and Zaria.
According to Yushau, vaccination teams have been mobilised to reach eligible children in homes, schools, churches, mosques, playgrounds, streets and other public locations to ensure widespread coverage.
He added that health workers had received the necessary training, while vaccines and other logistical materials had been made available ahead of the exercise.
Yushau explained that the campaign was particularly important following the detection of two mutant poliovirus samples earlier in the year in Soba and Igabi local government areas.
He noted that similar detections had also been recorded in some parts of the state towards the end of last year, highlighting the need to strengthen immunisation efforts.
The health official urged parents and caregivers to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that all eligible children receive the required doses.
He stressed that childhood immunisation remained essential to preventing diseases that could threaten children’s health and development.
Beyond the polio campaign, Yushau said other routine vaccines were available at designated immunisation centres to protect children against diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and pneumonia.
He encouraged parents to take advantage of the available services, noting that timely vaccination was critical to protecting children against preventable illnesses.
