Nigeria's Health Minister Urges Action on Child Immunization

Mohammed Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has been active in promoting children's immunization in Nigeria. The country was the first globally to introduce the Men5CV vaccine against meningitis, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

However, security challenges hinder routine immunization efforts, leaving many children vulnerable. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency reports that Nigeria has about two million zero-dose children and is second only to India in the number of children at risk of death from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The recent Diphtheria outbreak in Northern states underscores the urgency of immunization. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, supports vaccination campaigns, while UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warns against losing confidence in routine immunizations.

The NPHCDA Executive Director, Muyi Aina, states that Nigeria loses approximately 2,300 children under five and 145 women of childbearing age daily, primarily in the northern region, due to poor vaccination coverage.