The recent polio vaccination campaign in Daura has once again highlighted how community trust, respectful engagement and inclusive strategies remain central to protecting children against preventable diseases.
The exercise, which ran from December 6 to 9, was part of a broader state wide intervention flagged by the Katsina State Government through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF. The three day campaign targeted 2.8 million children across the 34 local government areas of the state, using door to door vaccination, fixed posts and mobile teams to reach hard to reach and underserved communities.
During the campaign, the SARMAN II Round II intervention was implemented, with Azithromycin administered to children aged 1 to 59 months, alongside the oral polio vaccine given to children aged 0 to 59 months, as part of efforts to further strengthen child survival and disease prevention.
In Daura, the campaign found strong backing from respected community members. Idris Abdullahi, the younger brother of a ward head, openly welcomed vaccination teams into his home on December 6, where a newborn child was vaccinated. He described the polio vaccine as a vital protection for children, stressing that it shields them from diseases that could cause lifelong disability.
According to him, resistance to vaccination often stems from misunderstanding rather than evidence. He appealed to sceptical members of the community to see the programme as progress, noting that health services once accessible only in hospitals are now delivered directly to households. He added that his family has consistently accepted the vaccine for years, a decision he said was guided by the visible benefits of immunisation.
However, the campaign also revealed how non health related grievances can affect public health compliance. In one case, a temporary refusal occurred after Malam Ibrahim, a large household head in Daura, felt humiliated while seeking redress over an inadequate mosquito net allocation. His frustration later translated into a refusal to allow his children to be vaccinated.
The situation was resolved through mediation involving his neighbour, Tukur Tijjani alongside UNICEF officials. Following dialogue and reassurance, Malam Ibrahim permitted the vaccination of seven of his children and pledged future cooperation. The incident underscored the importance of dignity, fairness and community level intervention in sustaining public confidence in health programmes.
Vaccination efforts also extended beyond residential areas to high traffic locations. At the Garkin Daura International Market, teams were deployed during the weekly market to vaccinate children accompanying traders and visitors from Niger Republic, Kano and Jigawa states. Health officials explained that the approach was critical, as polio transmission does not recognise borders.
Lawan Abdullahi Ismail, the World Health Organization’s Local Government Area facilitator, said the market strategy was designed to interrupt potential transmission routes. He acknowledged encountering resistance, often due to parental fears or spousal disagreement but noted that patient explanation and calm persuasion usually led to acceptance.
He emphasised that polio has no cure, only prevention and pointed to the steady reduction in the number of children crippled by the disease as proof of the vaccine’s effectiveness. He urged residents to avoid hearsay and seek accurate information from health professionals, assuring them that the vaccine has no harmful side effects.
As the campaign progresses across Katsina State, the experience in Daura illustrates that beyond logistics and numbers, the success of immunisation depends on human connection, community trust and a shared commitment to safeguarding the future of children.
