On “World Polio Day,” Nuzhat Rafique, Director of UNICEF’s Bauchi State Field Office, voiced her concern about the severe impact polio can have on children’s lives and well-being. Rafique emphasized the urgent need for vaccinations, noting that over 2.3 million children in Nigeria remain unvaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to the disease.
Highlighting the role of vaccination campaigns in preventing child fatalities and lifelong disabilities caused by polio, Rafique stated, “We are steadfast in our commitment to stopping polio outbreaks. For polio to be fully eradicated, every child in every household must be vaccinated.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that type 2 polio variants were detected in several African countries this year, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic. Without necessary precautions against the virus—transmitted through contaminated food, water, and contact—children risk respiratory complications, lifelong paralysis, and even death.
