Nigeria launches Polio Emergency Operations Centre in Katsina

Nigeria has inaugurated a Polio Emergency Operations Centre in Katsina State as part of a renewed push to combat polio and enhance health emergency response coordination. The center, established under the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) with support from the Gates Foundation, will serve as a strategic hub for surveillance, rapid response, and vaccination coordination. Dr. Shamsuddeen Yahaya, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, stated that the expanded 100-capacity center is crucial for fighting polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. He emphasized that the facility will improve coordination, data management, and rapid response mechanisms for circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). The center will enable health authorities to monitor real-time data from every ward, quickly deploy vaccination teams to remote areas, and respond effectively to outbreaks. Yahaya commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to healthcare and highlighted the strong political will at the national level as key to progress in polio eradication. He also praised the Katsina State Government for its investment in primary healthcare and the NPHCDA and development partners for their sustained efforts in reducing wild poliovirus cases from thousands to zero. "Our work is not done until every child is protected," Yahaya declared, expressing hope that the center will guide Nigeria toward a polio-free future and a healthier Katsina State.

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For years, this EOC has coordinated house-to-house campaigns, tracked every case, and ensured no child is missed. This expansion gives us more space, better data systems, and stronger coordination.