By THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern that Bauchi State has a total of 556,000 zero-dose children across 13 local government areas, thereby putting their chances of survival at risk.
This was disclosed by the Chief of Field Office (CFO), Bauchi Field Office of UNICEF, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, while handing over 2.5 million doses of polio vaccines to the state government in preparation for the 2025 polio vaccination campaign.
Speaking at the state cold store located within the premises of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, on Thursday, Dr Nuzhat Rafique stated: “As you know, and as I earlier mentioned, the polio campaign is starting in the 13 zero-dose LGAs on the 24th, and then across the entire state from the 26th to the 29th of April.”
According to her, “This is very critical, very important—it is a make-or-break event for us. These two campaigns this year are the last chance for Nigeria, and for Bauchi, to contribute towards the eradication of polio in Nigeria.”
She stressed: “Bauchi is one of the zero-dose states, with 13 out of 20 LGAs having zero-dose children. Zero-dose children are those who have never received any vaccines. This comprises over 556,000 children who have never been vaccinated, so you can imagine how highly at risk they are.”
She continued: “We have mapped out these LGAs, and we are starting there from the 24th. I urge you to give this campaign massive coverage—let all communities in Bauchi State know that this is the month for the polio campaign.”
The UNICEF CFO further emphasised: “All communities should start cooperating and mobilising resources to bring children to the vaccination centres or wherever the teams will be operating. Parents must ensure their children are vaccinated.”
She added: “This is not only for their benefit but for future generations—the entire future of Nigeria and the children born here. If we are polio-free, they will grow to be much better citizens, in sha Allah.”
She continued: “For this campaign, UNICEF, in coordination with the Primary Healthcare Development Board and Her Excellency, the First Lady, has always supported vaccination efforts in Bauchi State. We hope that this campaign will be successful, in sha Allah.”
According to her, “The Primary Healthcare Development Board has taken delivery of the vaccines, which we facilitated in bringing in—a total of 2.5 million doses of polio vaccine are already here in the cold room. Additionally, we have more than 50,000 vaccine droppers and 25,000 pen markers for marking the fingers of vaccinated children.”
Dr Nuzhat Rafique urged journalists: “It is your responsibility to take this message to the communities so that parents bring out their children for vaccination. We need to ensure that every eligible child is vaccinated.”
She reiterated: “Every child under five is a target for the campaign. But among those 556,000 zero-dose children, we are hopeful that after this campaign, there will be no zero-dose children left in Bauchi.”
According to her, “It is not just about polio for these children—it is about the entire vaccine package that needs to reach them. Once polio vaccination reaches them and they begin to receive immunisation, in sha Allah, we will reduce the number of zero-dose children.”
Also speaking, UNICEF Health Officer Patrick Akor explained that 160,250 doses would be used in the upcoming round of vaccinations to reach children aged 0–59 months.
He also assured that UNICEF has provided pen markers to mark the fingers of vaccinated children for proper and accurate data collection.
“We will ensure that in all the local governments, all teams have an adequate supply of vaccines during the implementation exercise,” he assured.
Bappah Jika, a representative from the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, confirmed the receipt of the vaccines from UNICEF and appreciated the Fund for its life-saving support.
He assured that adequate publicity would be undertaken to create awareness of the campaign so that the vaccination target is achieved.
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