Polio Cases Drop to Three in Borno as State Targets Zero
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
The number of circulating variant poliovirus cases in Borno State has dropped from eight in 2025 to three in 2026, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.
The UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Francis Butichi, disclosed this on Saturday in Maiduguri during a football match organised for polio survivors as part of activities to mark the 2026 World Polio Day.
Butichi said the reduction reflected the impact of sustained efforts by the Borno State Government, health workers, community leaders, development partners, volunteers and caregivers to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Borno State has made encouraging progress in the fight against polio, reducing reported circulating variant poliovirus cases from eight in 2025 to three in 2026,” he said.
He said the decline showed that ongoing interventions were yielding results, but stressed that more efforts were required to completely interrupt transmission.
According to him, the state’s target remained zero polio cases, urging stakeholders not to relent in their efforts to protect children through vaccination and other preventive measures.
“But while we celebrate this progress, the fight is not over. Three cases are still one too many, and our goal remains clear: zero polio cases in Borno State,” Butichi said.
He described the football match involving polio survivors as a symbol of the collective commitment of government, communities, partners, caregivers and survivors to achieving a polio-free future.
“Today is more than just a football match. It symbolises our collective commitment to a polio-free future and demonstrates the unity of communities, government, partners, caregivers and survivors in the fight against polio,” he said.
Butichi also stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare services to ensure that every child, regardless of location, had access to vaccination and other essential health services.
He urged parents and caregivers to make their children available for vaccination during campaigns, particularly in communities where immunity gaps persist.
He said the forthcoming polio vaccination campaigns scheduled for October and November would provide an important opportunity to reach more children and close the remaining immunity gaps.
“As we approach World Polio Day 2026 on 24 October, I call on government, partners, community leaders, parents and caregivers to renew their commitment to immunisation and child health,” he said.
The UNICEF official commended the Borno State Government, partners, community leaders, members of the polio survivors’ group, the media and other stakeholders for their continued support towards protecting children from preventable diseases.
He said sustained collaboration among stakeholders would be critical to achieving the ultimate goal of a polio-free Borno State.
