UNICEF has reported that Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states are responsible for approximately 70% of the documented cases of circulating polio variants in Nigeria. Mr. Rahma Rihood Muhammad Farah, the chief of the UNICEF field office in Kano, made this statement during a training session for volunteer community mobilizers (VCM) in Ungoggo local government area, Kano. The volunteers have been enlisted to help halt the spread of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) across the five states.
Mr. Rahma stated that 2,108 VCMs were recruited in the first phase across 23 LGAs in Kano and Katsina, while 3,400 will be engaged in two states. He also mentioned that with funding support from BMGF, UNICEF, in partnership with the KNSPHCMB, is pleased to expand the network of VCMs in Kano and Katsina states. The chief of the field office emphasized that the training will be followed by a 10-day micro census in the selected communities where the VCMs will record all children under 5 and pregnant women for follow-up and referral.
He explained that the VCMs are a group of influential women selected from communities with a high number of unvaccinated children (zero dose) and children who have missed the polio vaccine. These VCMs have been operating in Nigeria since 2012 with the responsibility of ensuring that all children under the age of 5 receive oral polio vaccination and other vaccines.
Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, the interim management committee chairman of IMC Ungoggo local government, praised UNICEF as partners in the fight against maternal and infant mortality. He encouraged participants to make use of the knowledge gained and reiterated their support to achieve the desired objectives. Amina Aminu Sani and Fatima Haruna Shu’aibu, who participated in the training, expressed their satisfaction with the program.
The training was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board (KNSPHCMB), as reported by Radio Nigeria.
