Mothers and Nigeria’s fight to end polio
By Abiemwense Moru, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
As the morning sun rose over Kuje in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, mothers cradled their babies, queuing patiently at the Primary Health Centre.
Laughter and the soft cries of infants filled the air, punctuated by the reassuring voice of health workers administering the life-saving polio vaccine.
It was the 2025 World Polio Day, a global reminder that the war against one of humanity’s most crippling diseases is not yet over.
For Rotary International District 9141 Governor, Mr Anthony Woghiren, it was not just another commemoration; it was a call to action.
Standing before a crowd of mothers, he issued a rallying cry that resonated beyond the small community of Kuje:
“I have instructed mothers to be our ambassadors.
“Tell your friends and every pregnant woman that every child must receive immunisation to prevent any form of polio.”
Rotary International has been at the forefront of the global fight to eradicate polio for nearly four decades.
With support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and national governments, the campaign has achieved an astounding 99.9 per cent reduction in polio cases worldwide.
Only Afghanistan and Pakistan still record cases of wild poliovirus, a reminder that while victory is close; the battle is not yet won.
For Nigeria, the journey has been one of perseverance and partnership.
The country was officially certified wild poliovirus-free in 2020, but maintaining that status has required vigilance.
According to Woghiren, Rotary’s goal remains clear, to achieve total eradication of polio before 2030.
“We cannot do it alone; we appeal to well-spirited individuals to contribute to the Rotary Polio Fund. Every naira donated helps us procure vaccines and support the health workers on the frontlines,” he said.
These health workers, many of them women, have become the unsung heroes of Nigeria’s immunisation story.
Armed with coolers of vaccines and sheer determination, they traverse rivers, mountains, and conflict-prone areas to ensure every child, no matter how remote, is protected.
In Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Ilyasu-Bashar, added a royal voice to the national chorus for eradication.
Addressing the state’s polio team, he hailed the collective commitment of the Kebbi Government, development partners, and traditional rulers in keeping the state polio-free.
“All hands must be on deck for us to completely eradicate the scourge of polio from resurfacing.
“We thank the state government, traditional rulers, and the Ministry of Women Affairs for their unrelenting efforts in ensuring that polio is eradicated in the entire state,’’ ” the Emir declared through his representative, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo-Aliyu.
Reports from local government areas across Kebbi showed impressive coverage, a testament to community cooperation and trust built through traditional institutions.
Traditional leaders have long been critical allies in public health campaigns.
Their endorsement carries the weight of culture, faith, and authority, essential in communities where misinformation and mistrust can derail vaccination drives.
As Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, District Head of Diggi, observed, “Traditional institutions in the state have been instrumental in building trust and dispelling misconceptions about vaccination.”
Further north, in Zamfara, the 2025 World Polio Day was a celebration of progress in spite of adversity.
The event, held at the Emir of Gusau’s Palace, gathered government officials, WHO and UNICEF representatives, and even polio survivors–living reminders of why the campaign must not relent.
Dr Husaini Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara Primary Healthcare Board, reaffirmed the state’s unwavering commitment.
In spite of insecurity and logistical challenges, Zamfara has maintained its polio-free status through collaboration and innovation.
“In spite of the challenges of insecurity, the state has maintained its polio-free status.
“We will continue to collaborate with partners to ensure children are protected from killer diseases,” Yakubu said.
That collaboration has yielded tangible results.
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According to Dr Murtala Salahudeen, Incident Manager of the Zamfara Polio Emergency Operations Centre, more than 1.8 million children under five have been vaccinated against polio, and more than 2 million have received measles and rubella vaccines.
“These achievements were possible through strong partnerships between the state government, WHO, UNICEF, and local organisations.
“Even nomadic communities were reached through the joint efforts of health teams and security agencies,” Salahudeen explained.
Zamfara’s story illustrates a powerful lesson: with political will, community engagement, and technical support, even insecurity cannot stop progress.
Among those attending the Gusau event was Aisha Musa, a 32-year-old polio survivor from Kaura Namoda.
Sitting in her wheelchair, Aisha radiated optimism. “I was only three when I was struck by polio.
“My parents didn’t know about vaccination then. I don’t want any other child to go through what I did.”
Aisha now works as a volunteer with UNICEF, helping raise awareness in rural communities. Her story, like many others, embodies resilience and transformation.
“When mothers see me, they understand what polio can do; I tell them, ‘You can prevent this; vaccinate your child,’” she said.
Her voice, both literal and symbolic, emphasises Woghiren’s call for mothers to become ambassadors.
Observers say these living testimonies bridge the gap between statistics and real lives, between policy and impact.
In Enugu State, the fight against polio is being waged with science, structure, and strategic partnerships.
At the 2025 World Polio Day commemoration themed “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to immunisation as a pillar of primary healthcare.
Through targeted vaccination outreach, enhanced surveillance, and massive investment in healthcare infrastructure, Enugu is making strides.
In April and June alone, more than 2.38 million children aged 0–59 months received the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV).
Ugwu credited these achievements to strong collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and local NGOs.
He also highlighted the construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state, one in each ward, as part of Gov. Peter Mbah’s vision to deliver accessible healthcare for all.
Still, challenges persist.
“Vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, insecurity, and infrastructure gaps remain real threats.
“But we are intensifying community engagement, strengthening surveillance, and promoting risk communication,” the commissioner said.
WHO’s State Coordinator for Enugu, Dr Adaeze Ugwu, emphasised this optimism: “Let us keep pushing forward, making new innovations, and advocating for every child to receive this life-changing polio vaccine.
“Together, we can make history.”
In Yobe, the story is one of determination amid daunting odds.
Marking World Polio Day in Damaturu, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammad Gana, lauded Nigeria’s collective progress but cautioned against complacency.
“Now is not the time to step back.
“The final steps toward polio eradication are the most critical and challenging; any complacency could reverse decades of progress,” he warned.
Gana outlined the strategies driving Yobe’s success, strong political commitment, community engagement, and innovative outreach campaigns targeting hard-to-reach populations.
According to him, vaccination teams employ “hit-and-run” campaigns in conflict-prone zones, use cross-border checkpoints for migrant vaccination, and collaborate with nomadic leaders to ensure no child is missed.
He attributed the state’s achievements to Gov. Mai Mala Buni’s leadership and the resource mobilisation efforts of his deputy, Alhaji Idi Gubana, who chairs the State Taskforce on Immunisation.
From Kuje to Kebbi, Zamfara to Enugu, and Yobe, one message resounds: polio eradication requires everyone, mothers, fathers, traditional rulers, health workers, and political leaders alike.
Each region’s experience offers a piece of the national puzzle; in the South, infrastructure and awareness lead the charge.
In the North, resilience, tradition, and collaboration drive success.
The unifying thread is Nigeria’s collective determination to ensure that no child ever suffers from a preventable disease again.
As Nigeria marks yet another World Polio Day, it stands at a historic crossroads.
With 99.9 per cent of the world already free from wild poliovirus, the country’s role is no longer just national, it is global.
Every vaccination campaign, every advocacy effort, and every mother who chooses to immunise her child brings the world one step closer to eradication.
Experts say the fight against polio is not just about science; it is about solidarity; it is about communities believing in the power of prevention, leaders using their influence for good, and survivors transforming their pain into purpose.(NANFeatures)
