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Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos Field Office vaccinating a child ahead of the Advocacy 'Walk For Polio' to mark the 2025 World Immunisation Week and Polio Week activities organised Lagos State Government in collaboration with UNICEF on Tuesday, in which hundreds of high-level policymakers, community leaders, influencers, youth advocates, development partners and citizens were mobilised to raise awareness and inspire urgent political and community commitment towards ending polio and boosting routine immunisation. |
To
protect vulnerable children, the Lagos State Government, in partnership with
UNICEF has launched the 'Walk for Polio' campaign, engaging hundreds of high-level
stakeholders to kick off the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) and ensure
that every child is immunised.
The
walk was organised to commemorate the 2025 World Immunisation Week and Polio
Week with the theme, “Humanly Possible: Saving Lives through Immunisation,” was
led by the wife of Lagos State Governor,
Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, with other key stakeholders.
World Immunisation Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to promote the life-saving power of immunisation to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases.
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| Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos Field Office (fourth from left); Blessing Ejiofor, UNICEF’S Communication Officer (third from left) and others during the Advocacy 'Walk For Polio' to mark the 2025 World Immunisation Week and Polio Week activities organised Lagos State Government in collaboration with UNICEF on Tuesday, in which hundreds of high-level policymakers, community leaders, influencers, youth advocates, development partners and citizens were mobilised to raise awareness and inspire urgent political and community commitment towards ending polio and boosting routine immunisation. |
Vaccines
are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Since 1974, they have saved 154
million lives, that is; more than three million lives a year or six people
every minute for five decades. In the same period, vaccination has reduced
infant deaths by 40 percent and more children now live to see their first
birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history. Measles vaccine
alone accounts for 60 percent of those lies saved.
Sanwo-Olu
stated that the theme was to further amplify the urgent message of preventing
vaccine-preventable diseases and eliminating polio. While emphasising the
importance immunisation as a fundamental right for every child, she
declared, “We cannot and must not allow any child in Lagos State to be left
vulnerable to this preventable disease. Immunisation is not a privilege, it is
a right.”
She
disclosed that it underscored the alignment of the campaign with Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Agenda, which prioritizes health and human
development. She reassured residents that Lagos State remains fully committed
to the “leave no child behind” principle in its healthcare delivery efforts.
“From
May 3 to 6, Lagos will implement the NIPDs in partnership with the National
Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and development partners such
as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). During the exercise, children aged
0 to 59 months will receive free oral polio vaccines in a door-to-door campaign
covering homes, schools, markets, and public spaces.”
The
Governor’s wife issued a strong appeal to parents, caregivers, religious and
traditional leaders, civil society, and youth groups to actively participate.
“Your cooperation is crucial. This is a shared mission to protect our
children.”
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| (From right) Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos Field Office; wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, with other key stakeholders during a townhall sensitisation ceremony ahead of the Advocacy 'Walk For Polio' to mark the 2025 World Immunisation Week and Polio Week activities organised Lagos State Government in collaboration with UNICEF on Tuesday, in which hundreds of high-level policymakers, community leaders, influencers, youth advocates, development partners and citizens were mobilised to raise awareness and inspire urgent political and community commitment towards ending polio and boosting routine immunisation. |
In a cautionary note, she warned against the dangers of vaccine misinformation and urged communities to promote accurate information and build trust. “Vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving,” she stressed, pledging continued advocacy and grassroots mobilisation from her office.
Sustained Political Will And
Investment
The
First Lady called for sustained political will and investment from all levels
of government, noting that the progress made in Lagos, such as expanded primary
health centers and maternal-child health access, must not only be preserved but
deepened.
“Let
us make a collective pledge today: That no child in Lagos will suffer from a
disease we can prevent. That we will reach the unreached, that we will end
polio, once and for all.
“This
event is a rallying point for healthcare professionals, government agencies,
community leaders, and the public to reinforce the vision of a healthier,
polio-free Lagos State.
Call To Action To Protect Every
Nigerian Child
Celine
Lafoucriere, UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos Field Office, issued a powerful call to
action to protect every Nigerian child from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Speaking
at the #WalkForPolio, Lafoucriere emphasised both the tremendous progress made
and the urgent work that remains. “To date, two million Nigerian children
remain zero-dose or unimmunised,” she said, warning that the goal of full
immunisation coverage is still far from being achieved.
Highlighting
the life-saving impact of vaccines, Lafoucriere shared that since 1974,
vaccines have saved over 150 million lives, translating to six lives every
minute over the last 50 years. She hailed vaccines as “extremely powerful”
tools in the fight against deadly diseases.
She
credited global efforts with reducing polio cases by 99.9 per cent since 1988
and noted that the oral polio vaccine alone has helped prevent 24 million cases
of paralysis. However, she cautioned that the fight is not over.
While
attributing the rise to low immunisation coverage, poor sanitation, and
malnutrition, conditions that continue to leave children vulnerable, she said,
“In Lagos, we are detecting a resurgence of polio.”
“Routine
immunisation is Nigeria’s best hope. While vaccine availability has improved,
many children still only receive vaccinations during limited campaigns. This is
not sustainable. We urged for routine immunisation to become the standard for
every child born in Lagos.”
Lafoucriere
pointed out that misinformation and lack of access remain major barriers.
“Despite the fact that vaccines are powerful, proven lifesavers, some parts of
the population remain misinformed, believing in harmful rumors,” she said.
She
reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the state government in reaching
underserved children, training health workers, and building community trust.
But she called for more than operational support, and a renewed political will.
“We
make a call for stronger routine immunisation systems to be made possible
through greater health education and awareness, so that no parent ever again in
Nigeria will take the risk of leaving their child at risk of dying from
preventable diseases.
“One
unvaccinated child is a risk to all. But together, united, we can end zero
dose, end polio, for good! Only with collective action, unwavering political
support, and a united voice can Nigeria ensure every child is protected.”
According
to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest
achievements.
“In
these 50 years, vaccination accounts for 40 per cent of the improvement in
infant survival, and more children now live to see their first birthday and
beyond than at any other time in human history. Measles vaccine alone accounts
for 60 percent of those lives saved.
“There
are more lives to be saved by building on these achievements. The future of
immunisation means not only reaching millions of children who have never
received a single shot, but protecting grandparents from influenza, babies from
malaria and RSV, pregnant mothers from tetanus, and young girls from HPV.
“We
are at a watershed moment in the history of global health. Hard-won gains in
stamping out diseases that are preventable through vaccination are in jeopardy.
Decades of collaborative efforts between governments, aid agencies, scientists,
healthcare workers, and parents got us to where we are today, a world where
we have eradicated smallpox and almost eradicated polio.”
Need For Increased Domestic
Investment
Contributing,
Dr. Chinenye Okafor, WHO’s State Coordinator in Lagos, said, "NIPDs
campaign in Lagos State, coinciding with the ongoing African Vaccination Week
and World Immunisation Week. Okafor emphasised the significant progress made
in immunisation coverage while highlighting areas that still require urgent
attention.
She
commended both the national and state governments for their contributions
toward combating vaccine-preventable diseases, especially polio. She
acknowledged the role of health workers, the Ministry of Health, and primary
health care providers in maintaining a resilient healthcare system. According
to her, Lagos has not recorded any circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus
(cVDPV) since 2023, a milestone that underscores the effectiveness of the
state’s disease surveillance and response mechanisms.
“WHO’s
primary role in disease surveillance and environmental monitoring ensures we
are confident that the virus is no longer circulating in Lagos. However, we
must not relent. We still face challenges with reaching zero-dose children and
those in hard-to-reach, riverine communities such as Olugbokere, where there
are no functional health facilities.”
Okafor
stressed the need for increased domestic investment in sustainable immunisation
financing and urged continued high-quality polio vaccination campaigns to
prevent resurgence. She highlighted the importance of community engagement,
particularly in tackling misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, which continue
to hinder full immunisation coverage.
“Immunisation
for all is humanly possible,” she noted, echoing this year’s theme for African
Vaccination Week. “We are calling on all stakeholders, including the First Lady
and community leaders, to help us ensure that no child is left behind.”
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| Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos Field Office with some children during the Advocacy 'Walk For Polio' to mark the 2025 World Immunisation Week and Polio Week activities organised Lagos State Government in collaboration with UNICEF on Tuesday, in which hundreds of high-level policymakers, community leaders, influencers, youth advocates, development partners and citizens were mobilised to raise awareness and inspire urgent political and community commitment towards ending polio and boosting routine immunisation. |
UNICEF also echoed WHO’s sentiments, acknowledging the strides made in immunisation while pointing out areas still needing attention.
With
376 WHO volunteers deployed across all wards in Lagos, the organisation
reiterated its commitment to supporting state efforts and integrating vaccines
into essential health services. The flag-off event marks a renewed commitment
to building a polio-free and vaccine-preventable, disease-free Nigerian society.
