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Health experts to vaccinate 1.1M children
Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
There is sigh of relief for parents and caregivers especially those in Abuja, as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the first round of the 2025 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs), to boost routine immunization coverage in the FCT.
In particular, the exercise aims at strengthening routine immunization and reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among children across the territory.
It was gathered that the said target population for the 2025 exercise, was the total number of children vaccinated during the last OBR.
The campaign, which was officially flagged off on Saturday, will fully run from May 4 to 10, is expected to administer potent oral polio vaccines on estimated 1,116,677 children (0 to 59 months), across the six FCT Area Councils.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, reiterated the urgency of improving immunization coverage to prevent childhood morbidity and mortality.
Dr. Fasawe, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babagana Adam opines that “Vaccine preventable diseases has been one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and FCT.
“In an effort to curtail series of disease outbreak, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with partners has a National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs), to boost routine immunization coverage in the FCT.”
She also emphasized the importance of awareness and public engagement in ensuring the success of the campaign.
She noted that the FCT Primary Health Care Board is taking proactive steps to ensure maximum coverage during the exercise.
She adds: “More so, there is need to conduct effective communication and mobilization in order to create demand for the vaccine and build public confidence amongst parents and caregivers.
“Although considerable achievements have been made through our different health programmes to reduce disease burden through immunization, we still need to do more to ensure that all mothers, caregivers and eligible children are covered within this period.”
However, highlighting a shift in strategy, she said: “I want to, on behalf of the FCT PHCB, inform you that emphasis has shifted from stand-alone vertical campaigns to a more integrated approach like the NIPDs, which exposes caregivers and children to key interventions that improve health status and enable them thrive through both the existing health system and outreach strategy.”
Furthermore, calling on stakeholders to support the initiative, Fasawe urged them to take up the role as NIPDs Ambassadors, to encourage and mobilize women, caregivers, children and all FCT residents to health facilities, temporary fixed posts and outreaches closest to them to avail themselves of this opportunity provided for the programme.
According to her, schools, churches, mosques and special places where eligible children 0–59 months could be found will also be reached with 2 drops of potent Oral Polio Vaccine.
“For this programme, FCT has adopted the following strategies to ensure that all nooks and cranny of FCT residents are reached.“They are: 154 fixed posts teams to be in the health facilities, and 1,152 house-to-house teams to visit different homes, churches, mosques and special places. No eligible child should miss any of this opportunity”,she stressed
Delivering his goodwill message at the event,World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Molonbo Walter, noted the importance of immunization as a fundamental human right for children in the FCT, adding that FCT’s efforts in tackling the diphtheria outbreak were commendable.
Walter further noted that the territory must remain committed to adopting new vaccines and also applauded the FCT health teams for their vigilance and effective surveillance,
Similarly, Engr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, who represented the NPHCDA, lauded the collaborative efforts that led to the successful flag-off of the campaign.
Abdullahi therefore called for continuous strive towards improved healthcare outcomes across the nation, stating that the NPHCDA’s mission is to ensure the health of Nigeria’s population, particularly those of vulnerable groups like children.
Not left out, the Sarki of Jiwa Chiefdom, Dr. Idris Musa, emphasized the critical role of traditional leaders in the success of health campaigns and urged other community leaders to monitor and support the exercise within their domains.
The monarch also highlighted the importance of considering the influx of people into the FCT when planning immunization efforts, advocating for a review of the broader immunization strategy to ensure that no child is left behind.
“Poliomyelitis is one of the dangerous sicknesses that cripple our children and nobody wants to be crippled. We don’t want to be crippled, so, we are appealing to all great Nigerians to allow their children to be immunized”, he stressed.
