The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sokoto Field Office has cautioned residents in the state against linking their residential toilets to sewage, as it poses a serious environmental hazard to public health.

Alhaji Bashar Garba Illela, a personnel from the Sokoto State Primary Health Development Agency, made this statement during a one-day Mass Mobilisation Dialogue with journalists and social media influencers organised by UNICEF.

The event aimed to seek media support to eradicate polio. Illela noted that the action risks the outbreak of diseases.

Garba also called on parents and stakeholders in Sokoto State to take immediate action towards eliminating the remnants of the polio virus.

The dialogue aimed to mobilise working journalists and other health stakeholders’ support for the upcoming polio immunisation exercise scheduled from April 16th to 19th, 2026.

The event focused on community mobilisation, creating awareness about the importance of polio vaccination, and reshaping people’s minds on misconceptions about polio.

A UNICEF representative in the Sokoto Office said they targeted over 1.5 million eligible children and had already recruited over 19,000 trained ad hoc staff to be redeployed for the 11,200 settlements.

The representative noted that the previous exercise conducted during the Ramadan period recorded over 77% coverage, and almost all reported non-compliance cases had been resolved with the help of traditional, religious leaders, and other influential personalities.

The UNICEF officer emphasised that the routine vaccine targets other diseases aside from polio and charged the media to consistently promote the campaign against polio, emphasising that the vaccination is free and effective.

“Every child under 5 must be vaccinated. Repeated doses strengthen immunity. Vaccination teams are trained and trustworthy. Non-compliance puts children and communities at risk,” the officer stated.

The officer urged the media to disseminate accurate and timely information, counter misinformation, myths, and rumours, and promote behaviour change and vaccine acceptance.