Nigeria progresses in routine immunisation – Survey
Children
By Aminu Garko
Kano, The National Immunization Coverage Survey Results have shown that over the years, Nigeria has made progress in routine Immunisation coverage.
Mr Rahama Farah, the UNICEF Chief, Kano Field office disclosed this at a two day media dialogue organised in Collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday in Kano.
The media dialogue on routine immunisation and the challenge of Zero Dose Children in particular, was organised for journalists from Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.
Farah called on the media practitioners in the country to focus more on issues affecting the wellbeing of women and children in their reportage.
He explained that the dialogue was organised to galvanise action, unify with government and persons in positions to take favourable actions for children’s well-being.
He however said that despite the progress, it is also clear that gaps still exist.
“For instance, in the three states of the northwest of Nigeria; Kano, Katsina and Jigawa, there are over 600,000 children who have not been vaccinated against childhood killer diseases.
“This closer to about 40 per cent of the total unimmunised children in Nigeria. Over 300,000 of those children are in Kano State, representing 50 per cent of the three states under the UNICEF Kano Office.
“This situation is unacceptable and should be reversed urgently,” according the UNICEF’s Chief.
He added that as the UN agency mandated for the protection and promotion of children’s rights, UNICEF is extremely concerned, when children don’t get immunised.
According to him, when children have no access to immunisation services, their basic fundamental right is not fulfilled.
Farah added that yet, despite proven safety, efficacy, and availability of vaccines, immunisation uptake has not always been optimal.
He added that, “Let me thank the media for the supportive and collaborative role on child survival, development, and protection issues over the years.
“At UNICEF, we daily monitor the media reporting, and we see that the content on child rights issues, and stories on children and women represent a sizable content published by the robust Nigerian media.
“Let me emphasise this, your role in advancing and promoting the public health services and promoting children rights in Nigeria is very critical.
“Immunisation is the single, most cost-effective, and high-impact
intervention which protects children against illness and death caused by
vaccine- preventable diseases.”
He pointed out that, myths, disinformation, misinformation, and rumours, have contributed a great deal to poor immunisation uptake, exposing children to high risk and death that can be avoidable when they don’t get immunized.
Farah, therefore urged media participants at the media dialogue and every media practitioner across the country, to create the demand for immunisation and to raise awareness of the importance of Immunisation by providing accurate information to caregivers, families, and communities.
“I also take this opportunity and urge traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, and civil society organisations, to forge partnerships to eliminate the number of unimmunised children in Nigeria.
“I also call on the governments of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states and other states with zero-dose Local Governmen Areas (LGAs), to take concerted action to strengthen their Primary Healthcare System.
“including to implement the Nigeria Primary Health Care Under One Roof Policy to ensure one-stop functional primary health care centre per ward, particularly those LGAs with unimmunised children.
“And also they should ensure an integrated package of primary health services are provided to families in one functional health facility,” he said.
He further called on the governments to also Increase strategic interventions to address persistent gap in human resources and recruit additional skilled critical cadres of health workers, including vaccinators, Community Health Influencers and Promoters Services (CHIPS)) agents for immunisation demand creation.
He also told them to provide essential medicines and health commodities, infrastructure,
electricity, and water supply for quality integrated Primary Health Care service for people.
“Let me conclude by reiterating UNICEF’s commitment to work with and support the state governments to ensure that the well-being of children and their rights are fulfilled and protected,” Farah said.
