Borno State has seen a decrease in cases of circulating variant poliovirus, dropping from eight in 2025 to three in 2026.
Francis Butichi, the Chief of the UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, shared this update on Saturday during a football match held for polio survivors to celebrate World Polio Day 2026.
He noted that this reduction was achieved through the combined efforts of the government and its partners. However, he emphasized that the presence of remaining cases indicates that the fight against polio is not yet over.
“Borno State has made encouraging progress in the fight against polio, reducing reported circulating variant poliovirus (cVPV) cases from eight in 2025 to three in 2026,” he said.
Butichi added: “What this means is that in 2025, we had eight cases. Through the works of government and partners, we have dropped that to three cases in 2026, which is a good indicator that all of us are working.”
He said the goal remained to record zero cases in the state.
“But while we celebrate this progress, the fight is not over. Three cases are still one too many and our goal remains clear: zero polio cases in Borno State,” he said.
Butichi said the football match symbolised the collective commitment of the government, communities, partners, caregivers and polio survivors to a polio-free future.
“Today is more than just a football match. It symbolises our collective commitment to a polio-free future and demonstrates the unity of communities, government, partners, caregivers and survivors in the fight against polio,” he said.
He stressed the need to strengthen primary healthcare services to ensure that every child, regardless of location, has access to vaccination and other essential health services.
He said the polio campaigns scheduled for October and November would provide a critical opportunity to protect children and close the remaining immunity gaps.
“As we approach World Polio Day 2026 on 24 October, I call on government, partners, community leaders, parents and caregivers to renew their commitment to immunisation and child health,” he said.
He commended the Borno State Government, partners, community leaders, polio survivors, the media and other stakeholders for their continued efforts to protect the health and future of children.
