Despite some progress in the fight against polio, Bauchi State is still having immunization gaps that threaten to undermine the state’s polio-free status.
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, the Chief Field Officer (CFO) of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed this during a recent awareness road walk in Bauchi to commemorate this year’s World Polio Day.
She said 22,000 children in Bauchi State remain unvaccinated, while 2.3 million children nationwide have not received routine immunizations.
Dr Rafique stressed that it is concerning given the recent outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). “Outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) continue to persist, with 4 cases of cVDPV2 documented in Bauchi in 2024,” the CFO noted during the event.
Bauchi State has made impressive strides in eradicating polio, with its last case of wild poliovirus reported in 2013. However, the re-emergence of vaccine-derived strains poses a serious threat to the progress made over the past decade.
“The continued spread of polio serves as a crucial reminder: until we eradicate all forms of this disease, children everywhere remain at risk,” the UNICEF CFO emphasized.
She added that while the state has managed to keep wild poliovirus at bay, the persistent cases of cVDPV2 suggest that the fight is far from over.
The not-for-profit organisation noted that one of the major hurdles in achieving full immunization coverage is reaching children in remote and underserved areas. Although UNICEF supported three statewide polio outbreak response (OBR) campaigns and two targeted local campaigns in Bauchi in 2024, many children still miss out on essential vaccines.
According to the Chief Field Officer, “to fully eliminate polio, every child in every household must receive the vaccine. Unfortunately, thousands of children are still missing out.”
She said efforts are being made to combat the trend through Social and Behavior Change (SBC) strategies, which focus on increasing vaccine acceptance among parents and caregivers.
She explained that the approach is designed to foster demand for vaccines in communities where skepticism or misinformation might be contributing to low immunization rates.
The CFO added that over the past two decades, the organization has been at the forefront of Bauchi’s Polio Eradication Initiatives, providing vital support for vaccine logistics, social mobilization, and technical assistance.
