The Journalists Initiative on Immunization Against Polio (JAP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has intensified efforts to eradicate polio in Kaduna State, recording the immunization of 221 children during recent outreach activities.
The exercise, conducted at the Kawo Motor Park and selected FRSC points in Kaduna, formed part of ongoing campaigns aimed at improving child health and ensuring that no eligible child is left out of the polio vaccination drive.
According to the report, JAP’s mobilization and sensitization campaign at the Kawo Motor Park led to the vaccination of 148 children, with transport workers, traders, and commuters actively participating in awareness sessions on the importance of immunization.
In a related outreach exercise carried out in partnership with the FRSC, an additional 73 children were vaccinated. The initiative targeted families and travelers at designated road safety points to reach children who may have missed routine immunization exercises.
Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kawo Motor Park branch, Alhaji Adamu Mohammed Abaji, described polio vaccination as essential for protecting children against preventable diseases.
He assured parents and caregivers that the vaccine is safe and effective, dismissing misconceptions surrounding immunization and urging families to take advantage of the exercise.
“The polio vaccine is safe and remains a vital tool in ensuring that children grow healthy and free from preventable illnesses,” he said, while encouraging parents to see immunization as a collective responsibility toward building a healthier society.
Abaji also commended the Kaduna State Government, the State Primary Health Care Board, WHO, and other development partners for sustaining immunization campaigns and strengthening healthcare delivery across communities in the state.
Meanwhile, a mother of three, Madam Kande Sani, who participated in the FRSC outreach exercise, called for improved vaccination strategies that would integrate protection against multiple childhood diseases during immunization campaigns.
She noted that such an approach would not only increase acceptance among parents but also provide wider health benefits for children.