The Gombe State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other development partners, has officially flagged off the 2025 round of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign, aimed at eradicating polio and improving child health across the state.
The launch event took place at the Kuri District Head Palace in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area, drawing traditional leaders, health officials, and community members in large numbers.
Representing Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Task Force on Immunization, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare services and protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Jatau expressed concern over the recent detection of five cases of circulating variantJ poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) in the state, warning that “every child missed is a potential case.” He called on parents, caregivers, and community leaders to actively support the campaign and ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
Focus on High-Risk Areas
The decision to flag off the campaign in Kuri stemmed from worrisome data indicating low immunization coverage in the area, particularly among “zero-dose” children—those who have never received any vaccine. Health officials described the situation as a serious public health risk requiring urgent intervention.
Traditional rulers including the Emir of Yamaltu, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, and the Emir of Deba, Alhaji Ahmad Usman Mohammed, pledged their full support to the immunization drive and commended healthcare workers for their dedication.
UNICEF, WHO Urge Action Against Vaccine Hesitancy
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, voiced concern over the high number of unreached children in Gombe, highlighting Dukku, Kwami, Funakaye, and Yamaltu-Deba as high-risk LGAs. Represented by UNICEF Health Officer Oluseyi Olusunde, she emphasized that despite Nigeria being declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, outbreaks of vaccine-derived strains persist due to missed immunizations.
She urged traditional leaders to combat misinformation and non-compliance among parents to close immunization gaps.
Also addressing the gathering, WHO Country Representative Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo cautioned that preventable diseases could resurface if immunization efforts are not sustained. He reaffirmed WHO’s ongoing support for Nigeria’s polio eradication initiatives, expressing confidence that polio could be completely eliminated by the end of 2025.
Health Commissioner Reassures on Vaccine Safety
Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, reassured parents about the safety and effectiveness of the oral polio vaccine, urging full participation in the exercise. “Immunizing your child protects them from multiple life-threatening diseases,” he stressed.
The NIPDs campaign will run across all 11 local government areas in Gombe State, targeting hundreds of thousands of children under the age of five with life-saving vaccines and additional health services.
