Nasarawa State launched a fresh polio outbreak response campaign on March 28, 2026. The exercise aimed to vaccinate more than 1.3 million children aged zero to 59 months amid concerns over persistent transmission and low immunisation coverage in some communities.
The four-day exercise ran from March 28 to March 31, 2026. Health workers conducted house-to-house visits and operated designated vaccination posts across the state. The campaign specifically targeted children in the zero to 59 months age bracket.
Dr. Gaza Gwamna, executive chairman of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, addressed journalists at the flag-off ceremony. He stated, “We are here to flag off the outbreak response for polio. We have a target of 1,308,000 children that we intend to reach within these four days.”
Dr. Gwamna explained the operational strategy. He said, “We are doing house-to-house visits and we have fixed posts where people can take their children for vaccination.”
Dr. Gwamna also addressed the challenge of vaccine hesitancy. He noted, “We have some people who are not willing to accept the vaccine, but we are working with traditional and religious leaders to ensure that we reach every child.”
Nigeria had previously been certified polio-free in 2020. However, health authorities detected circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in several states, including Nasarawa. This development prompted emergency response measures to prevent further spread.
