Over 189,000 Children Lack Access to Routine Immunisation in Six Months, NPHCDA Reveals

Fidelis David in Akure

The Executive Director of National Primary Health Care (PHC) Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has revealed that from January to June 2023, a total of 189,310 children in the South-west zone lacked access to or were never reached by any routine immunisation.

Shuaib, stated this at the Quarterly Review meeting of South West Traditional Leaders’ Committee (SWTLC) on PHC Delivery, held in Akure, Ondo State, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with NPHCDA.

He explained that the meeting was aimed at promoting an effective primary health care delivery to the people of the South-west in particular and Nigeria in general.

His words: “These children are referred to as zero dose children. Notably, Lagos has the highest count, with 79,279 zero dose children, followed by Oyo state with 53,812 children, Ondo with 30,280 children, Osun with 19,737 children, Ogun with 3,204 children, and finally Ekiti with 2,998 children who have never received any form of vaccination effort.”

Specifically, Shuaib, said the federal government, in collaboration with development partners, would be introducing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the national immunisation schedule by September 2023.

“The HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing the most common types of Human Papilloma Virus that cause cervical and other types of cancers. We would be reaching out to you to help communicate to your communities the importance of these vaccines.

“As respected leaders of our nation, I respectfully implore Your Majesties to consistently advocate for immunisation and other PHC services. By utilising your influential and revered position in society to emphasise the significance of regular immunization and other PHC services to parents and caregivers, we can overcome obstacles and enhance the acceptance of vaccines, ensuring that every child receives these life-saving treatments. By taking this action, we can stop the spread of cVPV2 and achieve a comprehensive enhancement in the health and welfare of our communities.

“The foundation of a well-functioning health system lies in its PHC system. It serves as the initial point of contact for individuals seeking healthcare services and plays a crucial role in disease prevention, health promotion, and community engagement.

“By fortifying our PHC system, we can ensure that quality Healthcare services reaches every corner of Nigeria”, he stressed.

The NPHCDA boss noted that the meeting presented another opportunity to deliberate and devise strategies to tackle the challenges facing  PHC system in the zone, identify service delivery gaps, and explore innovative solutions to enhance PHC services in various communities through collaborative efforts.

According to Shuaib, “Immunisation, particularly the eradication of all forms of vaccine preventable diseases for example Poliovirus, remains our top priority.

“Your involvement as traditional leaders in promoting vaccination campaigns and community mobilisation have been pivotal in our progress thus far.

“With your support, we have achieved remarkable milestones, witnessing a significant decline in cases of circulating variant polio virus type 2 (cVPV2) in the zone. However, our work is not yet complete. We must persistently labor until we reach the finish line, ensuring that future generations are shielded from this debilitating disease and other vaccine-preventable diseases.”

In addition, he said as part of NPHCDA’s efforts to strengthen PHC facilities and enhance reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health services across the states, the agency has recently launched and initiated the roll-out of the Community-Based Health Research Innovative-Training and Service Programme (CRISP).

“This intervention aims to optimise human resources for health, reduce maternal, newborn mortality rates, enhance the capacity of PHC facilities to provide quality services by recruiting skilled birth attendants, medical officers of health, and deploying of CRISP resident doctors from tertiary institutions”.

In his remark, the acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said the State would continually embrace  partnership with NPHCDA for the benefit of the people of the sunshine state, in promoting and protecting the health of all residents.

While noting that Akeredolu’s administration  has continued to prioritise health care service delivery in the State as part of its REDEEMED Policy Thrust, Aiyedatiwa said, “All levels of our health system have continued to receive necessary support to ensure that our people receive the kind of healthcare they desire without being subjected to unbearable expenditures.

“I am glad to disclose that our ORANGHIS,  our Health Insurance Scheme is doing a great job in the march of Ondo State to Universal Health Coverage. The Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodities is another giant stride to ensure that an efficient drug-revolving system is in place at all levels of the health system and to also ensure drugs and health commodities affordability and excellent quality.

“I am also happy to make known that we are nearing the completion of 250-bedded each at both complexes of the Teaching Hospital in Akure and respectively to create a conducive place for the management of our patients and ensure good working conditions for our medical workers and support staff.

“We are also prioritising the employment of health workers to fill the gap created by the global emigration of these categories of workers and the recruitment exercise will commence soonest.”

He added that the personal involvement and endorsement of primary health care services by royal fathers in the region will enhance trust and confidence among the citizens.

Present at the event were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe and other traditional rulers from the South West region.