In a bold move to curb the growing number of monkeypox infections in the state, the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board (SPHCB) has unveiled a vaccination campaign aimed at protecting high-risk populations in the worst-affected Local Government Areas (LGAs).
During a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held on Wednesday, Isah Yusha’u, Health Educator at the SPHCB, outlined the government’s strategy to contain the outbreak before it escalates further.
“We are acting proactively to protect Kaduna residents. The outbreak has affected several LGAs, and this vaccination campaign will help break the chain of transmission,” Yusha’u said.
According to Yusha’u, the campaign is scheduled to kick off around August 10 or 11 and will last 10 days, with a second round planned for four weeks later to boost immunity in targeted groups.
He confirmed that the Federal Government, working alongside the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and other development partners, had authorized a reactive vaccination programme—a strategy often deployed in outbreaks to limit spread among the most vulnerable.
The campaign prioritizes high-risk individuals, including:
Laboratory workers handling suspected monkeypox specimens
Immunocompromised individuals
People with high-risk sexual behavior
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To ensure widespread awareness and public cooperation, the SPHCB is partnering with traditional rulers, religious leaders, CSOs, and health institutions.
“Our goal is to combat misinformation and build trust in the vaccine. Community engagement is vital,” Yusha’u emphasized.
Abubakar Musa, the Coordinator of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna North, addressed the meeting, urging support for the campaign. Drawing parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, he underscored the influential role religious leaders play in promoting public health.
“JNI helped counter misinformation during COVID-19. We are committed to supporting this vaccination drive to protect our communities,” Musa affirmed.
The stakeholder meeting was attended by a diverse group, including health workers, media, social mobilizers, and religious groups, all pledging support for the success of the initiative.
Kaduna’s vaccination campaign signals a shift from reaction to prevention as authorities look to avoid a full-scale public health crisis.