Jigawa Safely Disposes Over 160,000 Polio Vaccine Vials After June 2025 Immunization Campaign
By Abdulhamid Sani
A Model of Environmental Safety, Public Health Compliance, and Stakeholder Collaboration
In a major stride toward safe immunization practices and environmental protection, Jigawa State has successfully disposed of 160,837 used polio vaccine vials following the just-concluded June 2025 round of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs).
The exercise involved the environmentally-safe disposal of 49,649 vials of the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV0) and 110,705 vials of the bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV), in addition to 483 unopened vials that were duly identified and documented for transparency.
In line with global best practices, the disposal process took place at a certified site that adheres to environmental safety standards. The used vials retrieved from all 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) were safely boiled and buried under the close supervision of Jigawa’s Immunization Waste Management Officer, Malam Danladi Jaafar, with technical oversight from the Acting State Immunization Officer (SIO), Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim Kazaure, and State Cold Chain Officer (SCCO), Alhaji Yusuf Inuwa.
The disposal process was a collaborative effort featuring representatives from UNICEF’s Vaccine Security and Logistics teams (VSL 1 & VSL 2), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and security personnel from both the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Their presence ensured compliance with national and international safety protocols, reflecting the transparency and seriousness attached to vaccine waste management in Jigawa.
Commendation from Civil Society
Reacting to the successful disposal, Comrade Muhammad Musbahu Basirka, State Coordinator of the Vaccine Network Nigeria in Jigawa, praised the leadership of the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (JSPHCDA), Dr. Shehu Sambo. He described the development as “another remarkable milestone in ensuring public confidence in immunization campaigns and upholding the environmental health standards in vaccine delivery.”
“Dr. Sambo’s continued commitment to best practices in immunization management is not only safeguarding our children but also building public trust in health systems. This effort showcases Jigawa’s leading role in effective, accountable, and sustainable healthcare delivery,” said Comrade Basirka.
This post-campaign activity is a crucial part of the immunization value chain. Beyond ensuring vaccine availability, safe disposal of vaccine vials protects communities from biohazard risks, prevents misuse, and reinforces environmental hygiene.
Jigawa State’s proactive measures further position it as a national model for integrated health systems management, thanks to the unwavering coordination of the JSPHCDA and its development partners.
For more updates on immunization and public health efforts in Jigawa and across Nigeria, stay tuned to Public Eye News your trusted source for human-focused development reporting.
Tags: #JigawaHealth #NIPDs2025 #VaccineSafety #PolioEradication #JSPHCDA #MusbahuBasirka #Immunization #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalSafety #UNICEF #NAFDAC #NSCDC #NigeriaNews
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