Kano State has reported three new cases of Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (cVDPV), rekindling fears over the safety and health of young children amid persistent immunization challenges.
The latest outbreak, confirmed just three months after eight similar cases were detected, again places children under five at significant risk of paralysis and other severe complications.
Rahama Rihood Mohamed Farah, Chief of UNICEF’s Field Office in Kano, revealed the development on Tuesday during a media dialogue on Child-Sensitive Budgeting. He described the resurgence as deeply concerning, warning that despite some progress, data continues to paint a bleak picture of child welfare in the state.
Farah pointed to alarming statistics: out of Kano’s estimated 6.5 million children, approximately 2.9 million remain under-immunized—leaving nearly half of the child population vulnerable to preventable diseases like polio.
He attributed the recurring outbreaks to longstanding systemic issues, notably the underfunding of essential sectors such as health, education, and social services. Farah criticized the practice of burying child-related expenditures within broader budget lines, resulting in insufficient resources for critical areas like nutrition, early childhood development, and child protection.
“To address these challenges, UNICEF is urging the government to adopt child-sensitive budgeting in all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as part of their Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and annual budget planning,” he said.
Farah also called for increased, safeguarded investment in life-saving child health and development programmes, as well as transparent and consistent reporting on child-related spending.
He further encouraged the media to actively support child welfare advocacy by demystifying budget data, exposing gaps in service delivery, and creating spaces for meaningful public dialogue. “Use your platforms to bring together government, civil society, communities, and children to push for change,” he said.
The emergence of these new polio cases underscores the urgent need for strengthened immunization campaigns and targeted funding to safeguard the health and future of Kano’s children.
