By: Peter Emmanuel |
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and traditional leaders are strengthening community trust in polio vaccination as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reach missed children and end poliovirus transmission across the country.
Through community engagement, advocacy and collaboration with health authorities, traditional institutions are helping to address vaccine concerns, counter misinformation and encourage families to embrace routine immunisation, particularly in underserved communities.
The impact of this approach is reflected in the experience of Amina Bindawa, a mother in northern Nigeria who was initially hesitant when vaccination workers arrived in her community.
Amina said she changed her mind after a trusted community leader and a health worker explained the importance of vaccination and answered her questions.
“I only agreed after they explained why the vaccine was important for my child,” she said. “Now I encourage other mothers to listen and ask questions.”
Her experience reflects a wider reality in many Nigerian communities where trust remains a major factor in health decisions and where credible local voices continue to play a key role in improving vaccine acceptance.
Traditional Leaders Drive Vaccine Confidence
The role of traditional leaders in building confidence around vaccination was a major focus at the second quarter review meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee held in Abuja.
The meeting brought together traditional rulers, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation and other partners to review progress and strengthen strategies for ending poliovirus transmission.
Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative to Nigeria, said health workers deliver vaccines and partners support immunisation programmes, but traditional leaders play a critical role in creating trust within communities.
“Health workers deliver vaccines, partners can support vaccination, but traditional leaders significantly contribute to deliver trust,” Ursu said.
He said traditional leaders help families understand the importance of vaccination and encourage communities to support health interventions.
The Chairman of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, said traditional institutions must continue to support efforts to ensure that no child is left without access to vaccines.
“As traditional leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that no child is left unimmunized, no outbreak goes unreported and no community is left behind,” Mera said.
He added that insecurity should not prevent leaders from working with health authorities to reach vulnerable communities.
Millions of Children Still Miss Routine Vaccines
Despite progress in immunisation, Nigeria continues to face challenges in reaching millions of children who have missed routine vaccines.
With about eight million births recorded annually, an estimated 2.1 million children have not received any routine vaccine. National routine immunisation coverage among children aged 12 to 23 months stands at 57 per cent, while northern Nigeria records a lower coverage rate of 41.5 per cent.
Stakeholders identified insecurity, poverty, misinformation, distance from health facilities and limited outreach services as some of the major barriers preventing children from receiving vaccines.
Surveillance gaps also remain a concern in the fight against poliovirus. According to the weekly national polio statistics report for week 30 of 2026, about 719 wards, representing 8.1 per cent of wards nationwide, are classified as “silent wards”.
These are areas where suspected cases are not being detected or reported, raising concerns about possible gaps in disease surveillance.
Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said Nigeria has reduced circulating variant poliovirus type 2 cases from 48 to 39 as of July 2026.
He, however, noted that more action is needed, particularly in states with low population immunity. According to him, 70 per cent of detected poliovirus cases are concentrated in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Partners Push Stronger Polio Response
The Federal Government and development partners are strengthening Nigeria’s immunisation system through increased financing, improved surveillance and better support for healthcare workers.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, said a $615 million immunisation financing package planned for 2026 to 2030 would help improve vaccine delivery, cold-chain systems and access to routine immunisation.
The package includes $515 million from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and $100 million in counterpart funding from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Pate said the investment would support wider health sector reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery and ensuring more children receive essential vaccines.
WHO said it would continue supporting Nigeria through technical assistance, surveillance strengthening, data analysis, workforce training and community engagement.
The organisation said its efforts align with Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme, the National Primary Health Care Revitalisation Strategy and the National Immunisation Agenda 2030, which focus on improving access to vaccines and strengthening health systems.
Stakeholders at the meeting agreed that ending poliovirus transmission requires sustained commitment from government, traditional leaders, health workers, caregivers and development partners.
They stressed that finding every missed child, rebuilding public confidence and ensuring vaccines reach every community remain central to Nigeria’s goal of protecting children and achieving a polio-free future.
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