The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated over 2.5 million doses of oral polio vaccines to the Bauchi State Government in support of an upcoming immunization campaign targeting children across the state.
Speaking on Thursday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital’s cold storage facility, where the vaccines are currently stored, UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, confirmed the donation. She announced that the vaccination exercise will run from April 24 to 29, 2025.
Rafique highlighted the urgency of the campaign, noting that 13 of Bauchi’s 20 local government areas have “zero-dose” children—those who have never received any form of vaccination. An estimated 556,000 children fall into this category.
She called for a strong awareness campaign to ensure high turnout during the vaccination period and urged communities to support parents in accessing vaccination services, whether at designated centers or through door-to-door outreach efforts.
“This campaign is critical—not just for these children, but for the future of Nigeria’s next generation,” Rafique stated.
UNICEF’s Health Officer in Bauchi, Patrick Akor, added that the organization has also provided special markers to identify vaccinated children and assured that all LGAs and teams will be well-equipped throughout the campaign.
Bappah Jika, a representative of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, acknowledged the delivery of the vaccines and expressed appreciation to UNICEF for its continued support in safeguarding children’s health.
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