Nigeria’s Final Battle Against Polio: UNICEF Urges Gombe to Rise as Warriors in 2025 Campaign
As Nigeria nears what could be its last chance to completely wipe out polio, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is calling on all stakeholders in Gombe State to rise with renewed urgency and unity.
Speaking at the sidelines of a two-day workshop on combating malnutrition in Gombe, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, issued a passionate call to action.
“2025 is the final opportunity we have to eradicate polio from Nigeria,” she declared.
“The eyes of the world are on us, and we must ensure no child is left unvaccinated.”
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Dr. Rafique warned that Nigeria continues to report cases of polio, positioning the country as a global high-risk zone.
“The virus is still circulating, and the burden is significant. Nigeria is under the spotlight because we are not out of the woods yet.
The focus is now on Gombe State, which is set to launch an intensive polio immunization campaign from April 24 to 30.
UNICEF is urging that the effort adopt a “warrior-like” posture, demanding active participation from all corners of society—households, community leaders, traditional and religious figures, political representatives, and the state government.
“No one should be passive. From LGA chairmen to councillors, commissioners to community elders everyone has a critical role to play,” Dr. Rafique emphasised.
Currently, an estimated 53,000 children in Gombe have never received any form of immunization referred to as “zero-dose” children. Alarmingly, over half of these children are concentrated in five local government areas: Dukku, Akko, Nafada, Kaltungo, and Yamaltu-Deba.
“These LGAs are not just high-risk zones they’re also areas where resistance to vaccination remains high,” she explained.
“We need to reach families with proper counselling, collaborate with local leaders, and dispel myths and fears around vaccines.
These children, the most marginalized and deprived, must not be forgotten.”
Dr. Rafique urged that every non-compliant household must now become compliant.
“This is not just a health issue it’s a national responsibility. We must leave no child behind in the fight to make Nigeria polio-free.”
As the countdown to April’s campaign begins, the call is clear: Gombe must become a frontline force in Nigeria’s historic push to end polio for good.
