Katsina Targets 2.7 Million Children In Fresh Polio Vaccination Drive

The Katsina State Government has launched an aggressive campaign to immunise no fewer than 2,688,730 children aged 0–59 months against poliovirus during the November 2026 Polio Vaccination Campaign, with a strong appeal to parents and stakeholders to ensure that no eligible child is left behind.

The vaccination exercise is scheduled to commence on Saturday, November 7, 2026, across 28 Local Government Areas, covering 299 wards and over 17,000 settlements.

The State Health Educator and Health Promotion Officer of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Mukhtar Mahmud, disclosed this on Thursday during a Mass Mobilisation Dialogue held at the State Polio Emergency Operations Centre in Katsina.

The dialogue brought together journalists, social media influencers, NYSC members and U-Reporters to strengthen public awareness and community mobilisation ahead of the campaign.

Dr. Mahmud said the exercise is being organised by the Katsina State Government through the Primary Health Care Agency in collaboration with development partners as part of sustained efforts to eradicate polio and safeguard children from the debilitating disease.

He explained that while the campaign will be implemented in 28 of the state’s 34 Local Government Areas, Bindawa, Dutsi, Kankia, Kusada, Safana and Sandamu will not participate in this round.

According to him, vaccination teams will adopt multiple strategies, including Directly Observed Polio Vaccination (DOPV), house-to-house visits, transit and special teams, fixed posts and temporary fixed posts, to ensure every eligible child is reached.

He added that children will receive the novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2), bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) and the fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) in line with approved health guidelines.

The campaign will feature two days of DOPV, four days of house-to-house vaccination and two days of mop-up activities to reach children who may have been missed during the initial phase.

Beyond polio vaccination, the exercise will integrate other essential health services through the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week and the SARMAAN II Project, aimed at expanding access to preventive healthcare for children and pregnant women.

Dr. Mahmud urged journalists, social media influencers, NYSC members and U-Reporters to intensify public enlightenment by sharing accurate and verified information, promoting acceptance of the vaccines and encouraging parents to make their children available for immunisation.

He also called on participants to help counter rumours and misinformation, stressing that false information can spread rapidly, create fear and confusion, and discourage families from accepting life-saving interventions.

The dialogue also reviewed the successes, challenges and lessons from previous vaccination campaigns, with stakeholders agreeing on strategies to improve coverage and ensure that every eligible child is protected during the November exercise.