The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said no fewer than 189,310 children have not been vaccinated across the southwest region of the country, saying these children either lacked access to or were never reached by routine immunisation.
Speaking at the Quarterly Review meeting of the South West Traditional Leaders’ Committee (SWTLC) On PHC delivery in Akure, Ondo state capital, Dr Shuaib expressed his concern over the inadequate immunisation of children between January and June this year.
He specifically mentioned the number of unvaccinated children in each state, stating that Ekiti recorded the lowest number with 2,998 children, followed by Ogun with 3,204, Osun with 19,737, Ondo with 30,280, Oyo with 53,812, and Lagos with the highest at 79,279.
Dr Shuaib appealed for synergy between the traditional rulers in the region and the agency to ensure that every child in their communities is immunised. He emphasized the importance of immunization as a historical tool in reducing child mortality and expressed disappointment at the low numbers recorded across the region.
The primary objective of the meeting was to promote effective primary healthcare delivery in the Southwest region and Nigeria as a whole.
Dr Shuaib further disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with other health sector development partners, plans to introduce the Human Papillomavirus vaccine in September this year. This vaccine aims to prevent the spread of the Papilloma virus, which is responsible for cervical cancer.
He said, “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.”
Dr Shuaib also emphasized the significant role of traditional rulers in advocating for immunization and other primary healthcare (PHC) services. He urged them to utilize their influential positions to emphasize the importance of regular immunization and other PHC services to parents and caregivers. This action would help overcome obstacles and enhance the acceptance of vaccines, ensuring that every child receives life-saving treatments.
He further added, “By taking this action, we can stop the spread of cVPV2 and achieve a comprehensive enhancement in the health and welfare of our communities.”
Dr Shuaib acknowledged the pivotal role played by traditional rulers in promoting vaccination campaigns and community mobilization, which has contributed to significant milestones in reducing cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) in the Southwest region. However, he emphasized that the work is not yet complete and urged continuous efforts until the complete eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases is achieved.
He also highlighted the 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 optimize human resources for health, reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates, and enhance the capacity of PHC facilities to provide quality services.
The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed the state’s commitment to partnering with the NPHCDA for the benefit of the people. He mentioned that healthcare service delivery is a priority for the present administration in the state, and support is provided to all levels of the health system to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare.
During the event, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who chaired the occasion, commended the Primary Health Care programs of the Federal Government. He urged everyone to support the government’s healthcare delivery programs and called on traditional rulers in the South West region to mobilize their subjects for immunisation exercises.
The event was attended by prominent traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, 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.
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