Nasarawa State and UNICEF Unite Against Malnutrition, Polio

Nasarawa State has partnered with UNICEF to tackle malnutrition and polio, as disclosed by Dr. Iskilu Saleh, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, during a media dialogue on the polio outbreak response campaign held on Thursday in Lafia. The agency is adopting a multi-sector approach to ensure that public health interventions effectively reach vulnerable and remote populations in the state.

Dr. Saleh highlighted the importance of mobilizing community caregivers and collaborating with religious leaders and school authorities to build trust for the success of the 2026 polio outbreak response. Dr. Ahm Tsofo, a health specialist from UNICEF's Kaduna field office, noted that polio remains endemic due to environmental factors and the missed vaccination of children during previous exercises.

He urged parents to ensure their children receive oral polio vaccines. Additionally, Mr. Salom Aya, the Director of Nutrition at the Nasarawa Primary Healthcare Agency, reported widespread malnutrition detected during earlier campaigns, prompting UNICEF's support for health camps providing nutritional services and treatment for malnourished children.