The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has advocated concerted stakeholders’ efforts to end the variant polio virus as the fund targeted 7.8 million children for the October Integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination in Kano.

Rahama Rihood M. Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, made the disclosure on Monday during the Media Dialogue and Mobilisation Session organised by the fund.

Farah explained that the phased round of the MRPV campaign that kicks off between 6th and 17th October 2025 in Kano enables another opportunity to end the deadly virus in Kano, ahead of the December 2025 agreed timeline.

To actualise the target, the UNICEF Chief revealed that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, with support from the fund, has allocated 3,347 teams, provided 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of (bOPV) for children under five years old.

He emphasised that while significant progress is being recorded in the area of vaccination, the fund is worried about the resurgence in the cases of variant polio virus in the state.

“We acknowledge the progress made possible by the Government and partners, our goal of halting the circulation of the polio virus in Kano State is yet to be attained.

“Kano has reported 3 cases of a variant of polio virus (cVPV2) so far in 2025, one each from Warawa, Bunkure and Nassarawa LGAs, compared to 31 cVPV2 cases from 17 LGAs in 2024.

“With only two months until December, the agreed date for achieving this goal, UNICEF calls on the Kano State Government to ensure LGAs’ chairmen personally oversee the pre, intra and post campaign phases and regularly chairing the evening review meetings during the campaign.

“LGAs’ Teams to intensify the supervision for the quality implementation of the campaign. We urge the state to use 400 MP3 Bluetooth Speakers with pre-loaded USB discs provided by UNICEF for social mobilisation and to be retained according to SOPs,” Farah noted.

Emphasising the role of the media on advocacy and mass sensitisation, the UNICEF boss added that the dialogue session is targeted at sharing information with participants on the upcoming integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign scheduled for next month.

He said UNICEF is also supporting the state with a cold chain and vaccines management system – 3 VSLs, 44 LGAs Vaccines Accountability Officers (VAOs) and 684 Ward Vaccines Accountability Officers – to enhance the integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign.