By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Kwara Government is targeting about 1.2 million children for the commencement of the 2026 mass vaccination campaign on poliomyelitis across the State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State has intensified campaign across Kwara rural communities for mass vaccination of all eligible for children zero to 59 months old.
NAN reports that Kwara recorded two confirmed cases of Circulating Variant of Polio Virus 2 (CvPv 2) in Dec. 2025, in Kiama Local Government, and an additional case in Jan. 2026.
Prof. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency who spoke at the Flagg-off of the Immunization Campaign in Afon, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara, stated that the Kwara Government is committed to ensuring every child is saved from Poliomyelitis.
She pointed out that the State Government in collaboration with all development partners has put in place all necessary life-saving strategies and immunization in protecting the children in State.
She recalled that Asa LGA in the past was a hot spot of non-compliance and vaccine hesitancy, however adding that massive progress has been recorded in the community as they are supporting government healthcare intervention.
Elelu urged all community traditional leaders as well as religious leaders to continue to support government intervention on immunization so as to achieve zero status of polio in the State.
The executive secretary also pledged government efforts to continue to revamp and renovate Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and General Hospital across the State.
Also speaking, Dr Lukman Ahmed, the Health Officer, of the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), disclosed that due to the efforts of the Kwara Government, the State scored Second in the just concluded “Identifying, Enumeration and Micro Plan” across the nation.
He explained that the vaccination is of utmost important in the country in ensuring that Nigeria gets back to the number of countries certified polio-free.
Danlami pointed out that with commitment for all stakeholders, all children would be protected from the diseases.
“UNICEF will continue to give all the support including technical assistance, monitoring, mobilisation and countering disinformation,” he said.
He enjoined the community leaders to support the immunization exercise across all the LGAs in the State.
In his address, the Chairman of Asa LGA, Alhaji Shehu Amasa appealed to all citizens of the communities to support the vaccination exercise to prevent children from the killer disease.
“We must not deviate from world class standard practice in administration of the vaccine and other drugs in our practices.
“Our healthcare staffs must show high level of depth, commitment, perseverance and resilience in the discharge of their responsibilities to the people,” he said.
The District Head of Afon, Alhaji Kolapo
Hannafi pledged to ensure all children in the community get immunized.
He also commended the State government for the life saving intervention.
