Eduardo Blanco, Chief of Health, UNICEF, Nigeria, noted that Nigeria ranked second internationally among countries with the greatest percentage of children immunized when speaking to journalists about the status of the world’s children in Abuja yesterday. Blanco voiced concern that Nigeria is still lagging in immunization rates at 57%, far below the 90 percent Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) target that the nation has already agreed to meet.
Select journalists were present for the zoom session at the UNICEF Kano office, where Blanco highlighted the weak healthcare system, lack of access to quality service delivery, and insecurity, particularly in the North East, as some of the factors contributing to the gap. Blanco expressed concern that the country might experience a resurgence of immunization-preventable diseases.
However, the UNICEF health official emphasized that the organization was aiming to immunize one million children in 18 states in 700 days. Rahama Farah, the Chief of Field Officer at UNICEF’s Kano office, highlighted that Kano had a 55 percent spread among 15 local councils, which put it ahead of two other states in the zone. Jigawa reported 26% of the overall impact over six local councils, while Katsina recorded 19% across eight local councils, according to Farah.
The field officer cited the rapid population growth, a lack of knowledge, and the government’s underinvestment in immunization as the main causes of the large gap. He asked the media to step up its advocacy against the region’s lack of attention to immunization, stressing that immunization against avoidable diseases and access to quality basic healthcare remain among a child’s fundamental rights.
Abimbola Olaniyo, a health specialist at the UNICEF office in Kano, called for the fullest participation and involvement of religious and community leaders to dispel the cultural myth regarding the efficacy of vaccines, especially among rural residents.
