Kwara Gears Up for Polio Immunization Blitz Targeting One Million Children

The Kwara State government has announced an ambitious immunization campaign aimed at safeguarding its youngest population against the debilitating polio virus. Scheduled to run from April 26th to 29th, 2025, the Immunisation Plus Days initiative seeks to reach over one million children under the age of five across all 16 local government areas of the state. This proactive measure underscores the government’s commitment to public health and the well-being of its children by bolstering their immunity against this highly infectious disease.

Professor Nusirat Elelu, the executive secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), emphasized the critical importance of this campaign. While Nigeria has been declared free of the wild polio virus, Professor Elelu cautioned against complacency, citing the ongoing presence of the virus in some other countries and the concern surrounding circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus. The upcoming immunization drive is therefore a crucial step in maintaining Kwara’s polio-free status and ensuring the continued protection of its vulnerable child population.

The KWSPHCDA has aligned its April immunization round with the national schedule set by the National Polio Emergency Operation Centre. Professor Elelu stressed that all children aged 0-5 years are eligible for vaccination, regardless of their prior immunization history, and reassured the public that the vaccine is safe, effective, and cannot be overdosed. To ensure maximum reach, vaccination teams will be deployed to households, markets, religious institutions, and schools across the state, making the vaccine readily accessible to all eligible children.

Professor Elelu made a strong appeal to parents, caregivers, religious leaders, schools, and religious institutions to actively participate in this vital public health initiative. By making their children available for vaccination, they will contribute significantly to the collective effort of protecting Kwara State from the threat of polio and ensuring a healthy future for the next generation. The success of this campaign hinges on the cooperation and participation of all stakeholders within the state.