The Kano State government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating “zero-dose” children as it joins the rest of the continent to commemorate the 2026 Africa Vaccination Week.
The State Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Yusuf, made this known during a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Kano, ahead of the week-long exercise.
Yusuf said the state is prioritising children aged 0–23 months who have not received routine immunisation, noting that targeted interventions are being deployed to close existing gaps.
He explained that the theme for this year’s campaign, “For every generation, vaccines work”, underscores the importance of sustained immunisation across all age groups and the need to strengthen public confidence in vaccines.
“We are focusing on reaching zero-dose children through accelerated catch-up initiatives while strengthening routine immunisation to build a resilient health system,” he said.
The commissioner added that Kano will adopt an integrated healthcare delivery approach during the exercise, combining immunisation with other essential services, which include deworming, antenatal care, family planning, nutrition screening, treatment for diarrhoea and malaria, HIV counselling, and breastfeeding support.
“We are breaking the silos of care to serve the whole person and ensure no child is left behind,” he said.
Yusuf also announced plans for a statewide rally and health walk to mark the event, with participation from traditional and religious leaders, as well as polio survivors, to boost community mobilisation.
He further revealed that a dedicated data management tool has been deployed across all 44 local government areas to enable real-time monitoring of vaccination activities.
“We will track every dose given, every child reached, and every service delivered to ensure accountability and improved outcomes,” Yusuf added.
The commissioner commended development partners, including Gavi, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF, for their continued support.
He stressed that the success of the campaign will be measured by improved immunisation coverage, accurate data reporting, and increased community participation across the state.