UNICEF, Borno Move to Immunize 1.6 Million Children Against Polio, Other Diseases

UNICEF, Borno Move to Immunize 1.6 Million Children Against Polio, Other Diseases

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the Borno State Ministry of Health and Human Services to immunize about 1.6 million children against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases across the state.

The intervention targets children under the age of six, with authorities aiming to achieve 85 per cent immunization coverage in 2026.

Speaking during a media dialogue organised to commemorate the 2026 World Immunization Week in Maiduguri on Tuesday, UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. Hassan Saidu Malgwi, said coordinated vaccination campaigns remain critical in protecting children from deadly diseases.

He explained that illnesses such as polio and six other child-killer diseases can be prevented through routine immunization and improved healthcare services.

Dr. Malgwi urged parents and guardians to ensure their children are vaccinated, stressing that immunization remains one of the safest and most effective ways to protect children from life-threatening infections.

According to him, maintaining personal hygiene and ensuring a clean environment are also essential in preventing diseases such as cholera and polio, particularly in vulnerable communities.

He disclosed that 229,924 children have already been fully immunized across the 19 Local Government Areas of the state.

Also speaking at the event, the Director of Community and Family Health Services in the state, Abdulwahab Mala, said the government was intensifying efforts to raise immunization coverage to 85 per cent before the end of the year.

He noted that the target would help health authorities protect more than two million children, especially those living in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities.

“The state government is working towards an immunization coverage of 85 per cent before the end of this year,” he said.

Mala added that ongoing collaboration between the state government, UNICEF, and other development partners has significantly improved vaccination coverage in Borno over the years.

He revealed that immunization coverage in the state has risen to 68 per cent since 2020 due to sustained campaigns and improved healthcare interventions.

Despite security challenges in some parts of the state, Mala commended the support of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and the Nigerian Army for helping health workers gain access to vulnerable children in remote communities over the past 15 years.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Borno State Government and its partners to sustaining efforts aimed at eradicating polio and other preventable diseases among children.