WPD: 22,000 children yet to receive routine polio immunization in Bauchi – UNICEF
By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
As the World commemorates this year’s World Polio Day (WPD) on Thursday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that 22,000O children have not received the routine immunization in Bauchi.
The Chief of Field Office, Bauchi Field Office of the UNICEF, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique who made this known during the event on Thursday in Bauchi Thursday, however, expressed delight that the state has been free of wild polio virus since the last case in 2013.
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique who added that Bauchi state is still contending with the variant form of the virus, said despite the success recorded in Nigeria regarding polio eradication, 2.3 million children in the country have not received routine immunization (Zero dose).
According to UNICEF, outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) continue to persist, with 4 cases of cVDPV2 (73 cases Nationally) documented
in Bauchi in 2024.
The Chief of Field Office added that the continued spread of polio serves as a crucial reminder that
until all forms of the disease is eradicated, children everywhere remained at risk.
“We face significant challenges in this fight, but UNICEF is dedicated to working with governments and partners to protect children from polio”, she pointed out.
She noted that, through Social and Behavior Change (SBC) strategies, UNICEF is leading initiatives to increase acceptance and demand for the polio vaccine amon parents and caregivers.
“Today, we gather to bring attention to the devastating impact of polio on children’s lives and well-being”, Dr Nuzhat Rafique said.
According to her, Child deaths and physical disabilities that polio causes can be banished from Bauchi, Nigeria, and the world if continued effort and commitment is made to stopping polio outbreaks.
Dr. Nuzhat who observed that, to fully eliminate polio, every child in every household must receive the vaccine, lamented that thousands of children are still missing out in the polio immunization.
She said that the global decline in childhood immunization coverage has led to rising outbreaks, even in countries that have been polio-free for decades.
The CFO further said, for over two decades UNICEF has supported Bauchi state in its Polio Eradication Initiatives and Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) campaigns.
“This year alone we have supported 3 statewide Polio Outbreak Response (OBR) campaigns and two targeted local OBRs in 4 LGAs with funding for vaccine
logistics, social mobilization and technical assistance”, she disclosed.