The Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA) on Thursday intensified efforts to achieve 100 per cent coverage in the upcoming polio vaccination campaign, urging media practitioners and social media influencers to scale up awareness across the state.
Health Educator at the agency, Sallau Malami, made the appeal while addressing journalists and influencers during an awareness initiative organised by the Ministry of Health, GSPHCDA, United Nations Children’s Fund, and other development partners.
He emphasised the critical role of the media in ensuring the success of the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), scheduled to hold from March 28 to 31, 2026.
“We are here to discuss the forthcoming National Immunisation Plus Days scheduled from March 28 to 31, 2026,” Malami said.
“We want the media to disseminate this information across the state so that people are well informed about the immunisation exercise.”
Malami noted that the campaign is specifically targeted at children aged zero to 59 months, who are most vulnerable to poliovirus infection. He stressed that achieving total coverage remains a top priority for health authorities in the state.
“The beneficiaries are children from 0 to 59 months — that is, under five years,” he said. “We are targeting 100 per cent coverage.”
He explained that the immunisation exercise is part of ongoing efforts to sustain Nigeria’s polio-free status and prevent any resurgence of the disease, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
Malami further urged parents and caregivers to make their children available for vaccination during the four-day exercise, assuring that the vaccines are safe, effective, and free of charge.
“The success of this programme depends largely on public awareness and cooperation,” he added. “We appeal to all parents and caregivers to ensure that no child is left behind.”
He also called on community leaders, religious institutions, and other stakeholders to support the campaign by mobilising residents and addressing vaccine hesitancy, noting that collective action is key to protecting children from preventable diseases.
