By Prosper Meneย
October 24, 2025 โ
Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, the First Lady of Katsina State, has rallied residents, community leaders, and health stakeholders to unite in the fight to eradicate polio once and for all. Speaking at a high-level media dialogue on immunization organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Katsina State Government, she emphasized that collective action is the only path to a polio-free future for the state’s children.
“Polio is not just a health challenge; it’s a threat to our children’s dreams and our shared prosperity,” Hajiya Radda declared. “We must all play our partโparents, fathers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the mediaโto ensure no child is left behind. Vaccines are free, safe, and our greatest weapon. Let us commit today to a Katsina where every family thrives without fear of this preventable disease.”
The event, held in the state capital, focused on the upcoming Integrated October Polio Vaccination Campaign, which aims to reach at least 4.8 million children aged 9 months to 14 years with measles-rubella vaccines and 2.3 million under-fives with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). This initiative comes as Katsina remains one of Nigeria’s “Axis of Intractable Transmission” states, grappling with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2). Earlier this year, the state reported 16 cases across five local government areas, underscoring the urgency of intensified efforts.
Hajiya Radda’s remarks built on her ongoing advocacy, including a December 2024 gender mainstreaming program that engaged men’s groups like “Majalisar Riga-kafi” to boost immunization rates. UNICEF Kano Field Office Chief Rahama Farah, who addressed the dialogue, praised the First Lady’s leadership, noting that her involvement has been pivotal in targeting over 45% fully immunized children by year’s end. “With partners like the First Lady, we’re not just vaccinating, we’re transforming communities,” Farah said. “The governor’s support and these male involvement strategies will help us end transmission and close the zero-dose gap.”
Health experts at the forum highlighted operational challenges, such as security issues in hard-to-reach areas like Batsari LGA, where 98% of recent cases originated. World Health Organization (WHO) representatives reiterated their commitment to supporting door-to-door campaigns and directly observed oral polio vaccination (DOOPV) to reach every eligible child. “Nigeria is close to certification as polio-free, but Katsina’s role is critical,” said WHO State Coordinator Dr. Abdulnasir Adamu. “Through relentless outreach, we’re ensuring access to quality healthcare for all, aligning with our triple billion targets.”
The First Lady’s call loudens broader African initiatives, where first ladies have historically championed polio eradication, from the 2015 African Union pledge to recent continent-wide summits. In Katsina, her efforts are part of a multi-pronged strategy: community sensitization, media mobilization, and accountability measures to reduce missed children, a persistent hurdle identified in past studies, where non-compliance rates once hovered near 50%.
While the vaccination campaign kicks off, officials urge parents to present children at designated posts and dispel myths about vaccine safety. “This is our moment,” Hajiya Radda concluded. “Together, we can vaccinate our way to victory and build a healthier Katsina for generations to come.”
