The Katsina State Government has commenced preparations to immunise 2,688,730 children aged between zero and 59 months against poliovirus during its November 2026 vaccination campaign.
Gatekeepers News reports that the government has urged parents, caregivers and other stakeholders to ensure that all eligible children receive the vaccines during the exercise, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 7.
The campaign will cover 28 local government areas, 299 wards and more than 17,000 settlements across the state.
Dr. Mukhtar Mahmud, state health educator and health promotion officer of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, disclosed the details on Thursday at a mass mobilisation dialogue held at the State Polio Emergency Operations Centre in Katsina.
The meeting brought together journalists, social media influencers, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and U-Reporters to strengthen public awareness and community mobilisation ahead of the exercise.
Mahmud said the campaign was being organised by the state government through the Primary Health Care Agency in collaboration with development partners as part of ongoing efforts to eradicate polio and protect children against the debilitating disease.
He explained that six local government areas — Bindawa, Dutsi, Kankia, Kusada, Safana and Sandamu — would not participate in the November round.
According to him, vaccination teams would deploy different strategies, including Directly Observed Polio Vaccination (DOPV), house-to-house visits, transit and special teams, fixed posts and temporary fixed posts, to ensure maximum coverage.
He added that eligible children would receive the novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2), bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) and fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV), in accordance with approved health guidelines.
The exercise will feature two days of DOPV, four days of house-to-house vaccination and two days of mop-up activities to reach children missed during the initial phase.
Beyond polio immunisation, the campaign will integrate other essential healthcare services through the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week and the SARMAAN II Project, aimed at expanding access to preventive healthcare for children and pregnant women.
Mahmud urged journalists, social media influencers, NYSC members and U-Reporters to intensify public enlightenment by sharing accurate information, promoting vaccine acceptance and encouraging parents to present their children for immunisation.
He also called on participants to counter rumours and misinformation, warning that false information could spread quickly, create fear and discourage families from accessing life-saving health interventions.
The dialogue also examined the achievements, challenges and lessons from previous vaccination campaigns, with stakeholders agreeing on strategies to improve coverage and ensure that every eligible child is protected during the November exercise.
