The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sanusi has disputed misconceptions that the polio vaccine was intended to stop women from giving birth.
He stated this at launching of polio vaccine exercise organized by the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Jigawa state Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA) at Jiba village in Dutse local government area.
Addressing the community (Jiba) known over the years for their habit of rejecting the polio immunization, the monarch said the vaccine is safe and healthy.
The Emir dispelled widespread misconceptions surrounding immunization among rural communities, stressing that claims that the vaccine is harmful were not true.
He said, “I want to draw your attention to the ongoing polio immunization. It is free from any harm, we will not approve anything that will cause harm to you or your children.
“If you can recall my father, the late Emir Muhammad Sanusi used to immunize his children and grandchildren to demonstrate the importance of the immunization to the people.
“When the issue of immunization started and people started saying that it was intended to stop women from giving birth which is not true, women who are immunised have a greater chances of giving birth to more babies because they are healthier, strong and more productive.”
Director, Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA) Dr. Hassan Shuaibu Kwalam said the objective of the polio immunization exercise is to eliminate the virus in the state and the country at large.
Dr Hassan Shu'aibu Kwalam recalled that in 2013, Nigeria was certified polio-free, but regretted that the country is still experiencing some variants of the polio virus.
“And that's why this campaign is very important because we're aiming to boost population immunity and reach.
“We're still struggling with some key indicators, especially around some routine immunization. We want to ride on the exercise to scale up the routine exercise.
“We are targeting to achieve about two million under five children in the ongoing polio immunization exercise in the state before the end of this month,” he said.
In his message the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Dr Lukman said across the world, three billion people have been immunized against polio since 1988, bringing the disease to the brink of eradication.
But he noted that the fight is not over, including in Nigeria, because low vaccination rates are creating opportunities for polio outbreaks.
He noted that, recently in 2025, 18 cases of polio were reported in 18 LGAs in nine states in Nigeria.
“Two of these polio cases are in Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa State. This is unacceptable and must be prevented,” Lukman said.
