By Lizzy Carr
The Bauchi State Government has set a target of 2,454,058 children for the April round of the Sub-National Immunization Plus Days (SNIPDs) and the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin on Children (SARMAAN II) project.
The State Immunization Officer, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, Mohammed Nasiru Shuaibu, disclosed this during a sensitization and media dialogue with health reporters and producers ahead of the integrated 2026 April round of the exercise held in Bauchi.
He explained that the figure represents the number of children vaccinated during the March round, which surpassed the initial target of 2,366,664 children.
“In the March round, we exceeded our target, recording over 100 percent coverage. For the April round, we are working with the updated figure of children already vaccinated,” he said.
Shuaibu noted that the state achieved 104 percent coverage in the previous round and expressed optimism about improving on the performance in the upcoming exercise.
He also commended the media for its continued role in raising awareness on the importance of immunization.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Primary Health Care in the state, Dr. Sufwan Ahmed, said the government is integrating polio immunization with the SARMAAN II project to enhance child survival.
He explained that children aged 1 to 59 months will receive Azithromycin alongside routine immunization.
“Azithromycin is administered orally. It helps in preventing upper respiratory tract infections and also serves as an antibiotic to reduce cases of diarrhea among children,” he said.
Dr. Ahmed added that administering the drug twice yearly can help boost immunity among children under five years of age.
He emphasized that although the vaccines are provided free to households, significant resources go into procuring them, urging the media to sustain awareness campaigns to encourage acceptance among parents and caregivers.
Also speaking, UNICEF Consultant, Moses Egehye, highlighted the critical role of the media in the success of immunization campaigns.
He urged journalists to promote positive role models within communities and ensure their reports are accurate, relatable, and trustworthy.
Egehye further called on media practitioners to actively counter misinformation, myths, and rumors surrounding vaccines.
The Sub-National Immunization Plus Days and the SARMAAN II project are scheduled to hold from May 3rd to May 8th, 2026, across all communities in Bauchi State.
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