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Some participants at the two-day media
dialogue on routine immunisation organised by the agency in collaboration with
the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board on Wednesday, in Lagos. |
UNICEF has said that it is partnering with the Federal Government to prioritise 100
local governments across 18 states with the highest concentration of zero-dose
children to boost immunisation uptake and close the gap of 2.3 million
unvaccinated Nigerian children.
Celine Lafoucriere, Chief UNICEF Field Office for the Southwest, disclosed this on Wednesday, September 25, in Lagos while declaring open a two-day media dialogue on routine immunisation organised by the agency in collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board.
Lafoucriere pledged her agency commitment to support Nigeria’s healthcare system in reducing zero-dose children as well as improving immunisation coverage
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office for the Southwest also expressed concern that the 2.3 million unvaccinated Nigerian children are predominantly in hard-to-reach areas, saying that there was a need for concerted efforts among stakeholders to enhance routine immunization and reduce zero-dose children.
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| Celine Lafoucriere, the Chief UNICEF Field Office for the Southwest |
Lafoucriere added that UNICEF in partnership with the government had prioritised 100 local governments across 18 states with the highest concentration of zero-dose children in increasing the immunisation uptake.
The Chief of the UNICEF Field Office for the Southwest further called for media support to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines, tackle misconceptions, and encourage vaccine uptake through their reports.
She said, “Your influence is very important. You can catalyse actions, and help dispel rumors and misinformation about vaccines. By working collectively, we can build a resilient health system that is capable of reaching each and every child, leaving no one behind. No matter where they live, we must ensure that no child in Nigeria suffers from preventable diseases,” she added.
In addition, experts from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) who gathered at the meeting urged the government at all levels to invest more in the health sector to address the funding gap in immunisation and reduce zero-dose children,
Bemoaning,
one of them, Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, the UNICEF Social Behaviour Change Communication Specialist, noted that low immunisation uptake was fueling the country's child mortality rate, amid 2.3 million children that had yet to receive vaccines in Nigeria.
Akinola-Akinwole emphasised the importance of immunisation in saving millions of lives of Nigerian citizens and the need for the governments to intensify their efforts toward achieving universal immunisation coverage.
Further, UNICEF Social Behaviour Change Communication Specialist disclosed that the spread of rumours about routine immunisation, limited access to healthcare facilities, inadequate funding, and cultural barriers hampering universal vaccination in the country.
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Some participants at the two-day media
dialogue on routine immunisation organised by the agency in collaboration with
the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board on Wednesday, in Lagos. |
Contributing, Adeniji Abebayo, Assistant Immunisation Programme Officer, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, urged parents to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the state government to get their children vaccinated against preventable illness in the forthcoming immunisation exercise, stressing the urgent need for every child to be fully immunised.
Abebayo expressed the readiness of the Lagos State to vaccinate a total of 21 million residents representing 85 percent of the state population from nine to 44 years against Yellow fever.
Adebayo noted that the exercise would be conducted between October 17 and November 2, 2024, adding that the state government would deploy 14,000 health workers to ensure hitch-free vaccination.
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