Kwara, 20 other states to repeat polio vaccination — WHO

Kwara State and 20 other states across the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, are set to repeat the polio component of the nationwide Integrated Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign earlier conducted in October 2025.

The reports that the exercise targeting children under five had been temporarily placed on hold but will resume at a later date under the supervision of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, in partnership with UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, and other development partners.

Speaking during a media dialogue on the November SNIPDs, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, and the Human Papillomavirus Intensification Campaign, on Monday, the WHO Coordinator for Kwara State, Dr Eyitayo Emmanuel, disclosed that the decision to repeat the vaccination was informed by “identified gaps” observed during the earlier round.

Dr Emmanuel, represented by another WHO official, Dr Gwomson Dauda, said feedback from field teams revealed that some schools declined participation, claiming they did not receive notification letters ahead of the exercise.

In some places, schools refused to receive the vaccines because they alleged that no official communication reached them,” he said.

He added that some military and federal schools similarly turned down the teams despite receiving formal letters.

The WHO officials also cited difficulties encountered by vaccination teams in gaining access to some residential estates, among other logistical barriers issues that necessitated the need for another round of the polio campaign.

Dr Dauda urged Nigerians to dismiss myths and misconceptions surrounding polio vaccination, stressing that the disease remains a real threat.

“Some of the elderly people you see who cannot walk properly were affected by polio. We even have one of our staff members who suffered polio as a child and is now working with the WHO. Polio is real,” he noted.

He, however, commended the Kwara State Government for fulfilling its counterpart funding obligations, a commitment he said contributed to the successful immunisation of over one million children in the state during the previous campaign.

“Kwara is one of the states that always stands out in implementation because the government fulfils its obligations,” he added.

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, represented by Director Dr Oguntoyinbo, described the media as critical partners in combating misinformation during vaccination exercises.

She noted that while the media remains a credible and reliable platform to drive health education, it also poses a risk when misinformation spreads rapidly, especially through social media.

“The role of the media in achieving universal health coverage and addressing health gaps cannot be overemphasised.

It must also be acknowledged that the same platforms can transmit misinformation, disinformation, and rumours which undermine public health efforts,” he said.

Prof. Elelu charged journalists and other key stakeholders to intensify enlightenment campaigns in rural communities to ensure accurate information reaches citizens ahead of the next phase of the vaccination exercise