The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched a mass immunisation campaign in Taraba State, aiming to vaccinate more than one million children under the age of five against polio.
The statewide campaign was officially flagged off on Saturday in Jalingo, the state capital, as part of Nigeria’s continued efforts to eliminate polio and protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Speaking at the event, Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, stressed the importance of ensuring every child receives the polio vaccine, particularly those in remote and underserved communities.
“Today is a very important day for every child in Taraba. Polio must be eradicated, and vaccination is the only way. We are targeting over one million children under five, and none should be missed,” Rafique said.
She also urged parents to cooperate with health workers and make their children available for the immunisation, noting that 2025 marks UNICEF’s final year of direct support for the polio programme in the region.
“The world is watching Nigeria. We must demonstrate our commitment by ensuring no child is left behind,” she added.
Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Taraba and Jalingo LGA Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Jauro Hassan, praised the collaboration between UNICEF and the state government. He highlighted the timely release of counterpart funding as a key factor in sustaining child health initiatives across the state.
