The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its determination to eliminate the circulation of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (VDPV2), a persistent health concern in parts of northern Nigeria.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu made this known on Tuesday during a high-level meeting with Dr Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, held at the Government House in Sokoto.
Nigeria was officially certified wild polio-free in 2020, but cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus have continued to surface in some states, largely due to low routine immunisation coverage, vaccine hesitancy and population movement. Sokoto remains one of the key states under the National Polio Emergency Action Plan.
Aliyu said the state is intensifying vaccination campaigns, strengthening disease surveillance and increasing community mobilisation efforts with the goal of ending transmission by 2026.
“Our goal is very clear: to interrupt the transmission of Poliovirus Type 2 and end its circulation in Sokoto State. We are strengthening our vaccination campaigns, improving surveillance and engaging communities more effectively to ensure no child is left behind,” the governor stated.
He also revealed that the state has released its 2024 Routine Immunisation counterpart fund, assuring that payments will continue in the coming years to support the sustainability of the programme.
According to him, the state has procured important equipment such as deep freezers, generators and motorcycles to improve cold-chain storage and enable health workers to access hard-to-reach communities.
“These investments are meant to ensure hitch-free immunisation exercises and effective service delivery across all local government areas,” he said.
Beyond polio eradication, Aliyu appealed for continued partnership support in strengthening primary healthcare and reducing maternal and infant deaths. He noted that the state has recruited 1,500 nurses and midwives in the last two years to tackle manpower shortages, especially at the primary healthcare level.
The governor also disclosed that the government has introduced a mandatory two-year rural posting for health workers, including doctors, to improve healthcare access in rural areas.
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In his remarks, Dr Chris Elias praised the state government for showing strong political commitment to immunisation and healthcare improvement.
“Sokoto’s commitment to routine immunisation, health workforce expansion and community engagement is critical to sustaining Nigeria’s polio-free status and protecting children from preventable diseases,” Elias said.
The meeting stressed the need for continued collaboration between the government, development partners and local communities to achieve lasting progress in healthcare delivery.
Representatives from the Dangote Foundation, the Gates Foundation Nigeria office, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency were also present at the meeting.
