UNICEF, Sokoto Rally Journalists Against Fake Finger Marking in Immunization Campaign

By Abdulfatai Abdulsalami, Sokoto.

T

he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Sokoto State Government have called on journalists to support efforts to address fake finger marking and inaccurate data reporting during immunization campaigns.

Speaking at a Media Dialogue on Thursday in Sokoto, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Mr. Michael Juma, and the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHDA), Dr. Larai Tambuwal, emphasized the critical role of the media in safeguarding the integrity of vaccination drives.

Dr. Tambuwal raised concerns about the unethical practices of some vaccinators who discard vaccines, falsely mark children as vaccinated, and inaccurately record covered households.

“These dishonest actions distort vaccination data and put children at serious risk by creating a false sense of coverage,” she warned.

She noted that while Sokoto recorded the highest number of poliomyelitis cases in the country in 2023 with 68 reported infections, the figure dropped to 28 in 2024, and currently stands at only four.

“This progress is commendable, but even a few cases can spark a resurgence. We must sustain and strengthen our efforts to ensure total eradication of the virus,” she said.

Dr. Tambuwal announced that the next round of house-to-house immunisation will run from April 26 to 29, targeting children aged 0 to 59 months across all 244 political wards, irrespective of their previous immunisation status.

The head of the UNICEF Sokoto field office, Mr. Juma, reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting the Sokoto government in reversing negative trends in immunization.

“The media is vital in amplifying success stories, tracking challenges, reporting non-compliance, and engaging communities. Your role cannot be overstated,” Juma told journalists.

He also emphasized the importance of local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in dispelling misinformation and persuading communities to embrace polio vaccines.

Juma urged the state government to increase funding for immunisation, strengthen operational teams, and provide essential logistics.

UNICEF Polio Specialists, Mesele Mindachew and Apriyanka Khann, presented data on prevailing misconceptions and the prevalence of misinformation in communities. They expressed optimism about the near-eradication of poliomyelitis globally, citing positive outcomes from other countries.

They proposed strategies including greater involvement of traditional leaders and focused efforts in areas with large numbers of unvaccinated children or where access is difficult.

Earlier, Dr. Bello Mohammed Marnona, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmad Aliyu on SSPHDA, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to immunisation and called on journalists to continue educating the public about its benefits.

During the interactive session, some journalists offered suggestions, shared experiences, and called for legislation to make immunisation compulsory in the state.