Polio Vaccine Heroes’ Brave Violence to Protect Children in Zamfara
In violence affected Zamfara state, Northwest Nigeria, resilient community volunteers’ brave violence, treacherous terrain and displacement to promote life – saving polio vaccination
GUSAU, Zamfara State, 23 June 2025 — In Bungudu Local Government Area (LGA), 35-year-old farmer Hamza Hamisu Gamraki serves as a Volunteer Ward Supervisor. By day, he tills his farmland in Sankalawa Ward, but when on vaccine duty, he acts as a vital link between local government support vaccination teams and communities threatened by armed banditry.
“For me, life is all about risk,” Hamza says. “Risking my life to save others in my community is worth the investment.”
Now in his ninth month of volunteering such service, Hamza helps vaccination teams navigate dangerous terrains, ensuring that between 75 to 80 children are immunized daily during each vaccination round. His efforts stem from painful memories of past campaigns disrupted by insecurity, leaving entire villages unvaccinated and impacted by the deadly Polio Virus.
Women Leading the Charge
Wasila Umar, a 40-year-old Volunteer Community Mobilizer (VCM), has spent five years sensitizing communities on the importance of vaccination. Despite the challenges, she says vaccine acceptance has grown significantly due to increased awareness and visible health benefits.
She recalls a recent incident in Qarazau, just three kilometers from her village, where a bandit attack forced vaccination teams to seek armed escort from Community Protection Guards (CPGs) to reach remote settlements unharmed.
According to Wasila, seasonal floods add to such complications. During the rainy season, flooded swamps cut off access to several communities, leaving volunteers with the option to either swim across with their supplies or trek for kilometers to access such vaccination camps. “Waiting means risking illness or even death for our children,” Wasila adds.
“People trust us now, they have seen how children who get vaccinated are healthier. But insecurity remains our biggest challenge.”
Championing Vaccine Advocacy on the Frontlines
Rashida Labaran, 35, a young community leader from Tsafe Local Government Area, has taken on the role of vaccine advocate despite being displaced from her home in Tsageru village.
Following the killing of a vaccinator by bandits, vaccine delivery to her community had all but ceased.
“The tragedy pushed me to step up—not as a vaccinator, but as a supporter who helps vaccines reach our children,” she says.
According to Rashida, Communities now coordinate with local vaccinators to set meeting points where children from various settlements gather for immunization drives. In a heartening trend, trust in the vaccines remains high, fueled by the visible impact on child health, in the area.
“Vaccines save lives, we can’t keep living with both insecurity and disease—we must avoid the avoidable.”
These little known warriors of Zamfara stand resolute, despite facing repeated threats of violence, treacherous terrain, and displacement. Their resilience as community volunteers, make them local heroes. New age campaigners of the Polio Vaccination campaign like Hamza, Wasila, and Rashida continue to mobilse and energise Nigeria’s progress in eradicating polio. Their dedication offers hope that even in the most fragile contexts, public health efforts can thrive through local courage and commitment.
