Katsina State has achieved 11 consecutive months without recording a new polio case, following a large-scale immunisation campaign that reached over 2.9 million children.
The milestone was announced by Heartland Alliance LTD/GTE to commemorate World Immunisation Week 2026, themed “For every generation, vaccines work.”
According to the organisation’s CEO, Bartholomew Ochonye, the achievement reflects sustained efforts in high-risk areas but warned that progress remains fragile. He stressed that even one missed child could allow the virus to persist.
Data from March 2026 shows the campaign vaccinated over 2.9 million children, helping to halt cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in the state. However, the exercise also uncovered major gaps, with more than 50,000 children identified as “zero-dose”—having never received any vaccination prior to the intervention.
The campaign, which began in April 2025, deployed over 4,000 field workers to hard-to-reach communities, covering more than 836,000 households and surpassing initial targets. It was followed by a statewide micro-planning effort across all 34 local government areas to improve data accuracy and ensure wider coverage.
Despite the progress, challenges such as insecurity, vaccine hesitancy, weak health infrastructure, and limited cold chain systems continue to threaten sustainability. Experts warn that without consistent funding and stronger coordination, the gains recorded in Katsina could be reversed.
Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, but outbreaks of vaccine-derived strains remain a concern, particularly in underserved northern communities. Stakeholders are now calling for increased investment to reach every child and sustain immunisation efforts nationwide.
