The Mari-care Foundation for Widows, Single Parents, Orphans and Vulnerable Children Nigeria has intensified its public health advocacy in Kano State with a large-scale vaccination sanitization campaign at Yankaba Vegetable Market, engaging traders, market women, and members of the general public on the importance of immunisation in preventing communicable diseases.
The outreach formed part of activities marking the African Vaccination Week 2026, themed “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work,” a message that underscores the effectiveness of vaccines across all age groups and populations regardless of background.
The campaign, led by the Mari-care Foundation focused on raising awareness about the role of vaccines in strengthening public health systems and protecting communities from preventable diseases.
Organisers said the decision to engage Yankaba Market was strategic, given that the location is rarely visited by non-governmental organisations for health sensitization programmes.
Market women and traders were educated on immunisation benefits, disease prevention, and the importance of ensuring children and vulnerable groups are fully vaccinated.
A healthcare professional, Lami Lawan, who has worked in the sector for over a decade, praised the initiative and pledged to extend its impact within her professional circle.
“This campaign is timely and important. I will take this message back to my workplace and organise a step-down training for my colleagues so that more people understand the importance of vaccination,” she said.
Similarly, a businesswoman, Indo Shehu, expressed support for the campaign and committed to spreading awareness among fellow traders.
“What we have learned here is very useful. I will inform my business partners and other women in the market so that they also understand the importance of vaccines,” she said.
The foundation also used the platform to encourage community participation in ongoing vaccination programmes across Kano State.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs. Ola Tayo, expressed appreciation for the warm reception received from traders and market stakeholders.
She commended their willingness to engage with the campaign and described their support as vital to strengthening public health awareness at the grassroots level.
“We appreciate the way market women and traders received us and their commitment to supporting vaccination campaigns. This kind of cooperation is what makes public health interventions successful,” she said.
Participants at the outreach were also sensitised on the broader goals of the vaccination campaign, which include reducing child mortality, preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and ensuring healthier communities through sustained immunisation coverage.
Health advocates at the event stressed that vaccination remains one of the most effective tools in modern medicine, noting that increased awareness at the community level is essential to overcoming misinformation and improving uptake.
The Mari-care Foundation reiterated its commitment to expanding its outreach programmes across other markets and communities in Kano State, with a focus on women, children, and vulnerable populations.
Yankaba Market engagement reflects a growing trend among civil society organisations to take health education directly to commercial hubs and underserved communities, where daily interaction makes such interventions more impactful.
As African Vaccination Week continues, stakeholders have called for sustained collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and community leaders to ensure that no eligible person is left behind in immunisation efforts across Nigeria.