The First Lady of Sokoto State, Hajia Fatima Aliyu, on Friday officially unveiled the 2025 Oral Polio Vaccination Campaign—reaffirming the state’s commitment to protecting the health and future of its children.
Represented by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajia Hadiza Shagari, the Governor’s wife, described the campaign as a “life-saving mission” and a “public health movement” aimed at protecting children under the age of five from polio and other preventable diseases.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held at the District Head’s Palace in Shuni, Fatima emphasised the significance of the oral polio vaccine, calling it “a simple, safe, and effective means to a polio-free future.”
“This is not just another routine vaccination exercise,” she stated. “Every dose administered brings us one step closer to eradicating polio from our communities, our state, and our nation.”
The First Lady of Sokoto State, Hajia Fatima Aliyu, on Friday, during the official unveiling of the 2025 Oral Polio Vaccination Campaign
The First Lady also commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his steadfast support of the health sector. She further acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Health, the State and National Primary Health Care Development Agencies, and development partners for their ongoing commitment to child health.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Hon. Faruku, expressed gratitude to God and all stakeholders for their roles in launching the campaign. He highlighted the lingering presence of polio in some communities and the challenges associated with eradicating it.
“We must not relent,” he said. “The virus is still with us. It is not just a health issue, but also deeply rooted in social, cultural, and behavioural challenges. We need the support of all parents, traditional and religious leaders, to ensure success.”
He warned that a single infected child could potentially transmit the virus to over 200 others and urged families not to “fold their arms while children become crippled when we have the means to stop it.”
The campaign targets all eligible children aged 0– 59 months across Sokoto State’s 244 wards. Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muhammed Bello, stressed the need for collective effort to remove Sokoto from the national polio “blacklist.”
Representatives from development partners, including the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, pledged continued support and urged all stakeholders—especially the media, parents, and community leaders—to ensure no child is left behind.
The Chief of Field Office at UNICEF Sokoto, Michael Juma, underscored the role of the media in tracking and publicising the campaign’s progress to ensure the vaccines reach every household.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary, Hajia Larai Tambuwa, reminded the public that Sokoto is not yet polio-free and called for full community participation to defeat the disease.
The campaign has identified Wamakko, Sokoto South, and Sokoto North as areas with the highest rates of non-compliance in previous rounds. These Local Government Areas are now a major focus of intensified outreach efforts.
As the 2025 OPV campaign unfolds, attention turns to families, community leaders, and health workers to unite in pursuit of one common goal: a polio-free Sokoto State.
