One polio case could trigger global outbreak—UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that a single confirmed case of polio in any country could pose a threat to the entire world, urging stakeholders to intensify efforts to eradicate the disease.

The UNICEF Kano Officer in Charge, Dr Karanveer Singh, gave the warning at a co-creation workshop on polio held in Kano to strengthen the capacity of young people, influencers, and government partners to develop engaging digital content promoting polio vaccination.

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Singh said polio eradication required sustained global cooperation because the disease could spread across borders from countries where it remained present.

He explained that although there is no cure for polio, the disease is preventable through vaccination, noting that the oral polio vaccine is safe and effective and has contributed to a 99.9 percent reduction in polio cases globally.

“Even one case can trigger an outbreak,” Singh warned, urging parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive all the required doses of the polio vaccine.

He also stressed the need for strong leadership and coordinated action at all levels to ensure that every child is protected against the disease.

The UNICEF official encouraged participants at the workshop to seek clarification on misconceptions surrounding polio, vaccination, and ongoing eradication efforts, saying accurate information was critical to sustaining public confidence in immunization.

In his welcome remarks, UNICEF Social and Behavior Change Chief Kshitij Joshi said the workshop was designed to equip participants with skills to develop engaging content for a short community cinema aimed at increasing awareness of polio vaccination.

Joshi listed improved engagement, enhanced content creation skills, and increased understanding of polio vaccines among participants as some of the key objectives of the program.

Representing the incident manager of the Kano Emergency Operations Center, Dr Abdullahi Ahmed, the deputy incident manager, Dr Abba Muhammad Danzomo, said the Kano State Government remained committed to the eradication of polio.

Danzomo said the state had established a task force on polio eradication, headed by the deputy governor and commissioner for health, while strengthening supportive supervision at health facilities.

He added that the government had also ensured prompt payment of counterpart funding to support immunization activities across the state.

The workshop brought together UNICEF U-Reporters, media professionals, Kannywood practitioners, and content creators.

It was organized by the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office through its Health, Social and Behavior Change and Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships Sections, in collaboration with UNICEF Champion Ali Nuhu and Kannywood.