Health
WHO estimates 6.2m Nigerian children unvaccinated due to COVID-19
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 6.2 million Nigerian children are zero doses (unvaccinated), a consequence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021.
WHO Regional Director for Africa,Dr. Masthidiso Moeti said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news conference to celebrate the African Vaccination Week (AVW) and World Immunization Week with the theme “The Big Catch-Up.”
“The Big Catch Up is actually a year-long campaign aiming to reverse the serious setbacks in routine immunization.
“We acknowledge current efforts by government for 83 per cent reduction in circulating Variant Polio Virus type 2.
“Also a significant feat in sustaining certification for the eradication Wild Polio Virus in Nigeria,” she said.
Moeti, represented by Dr Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, said that an estimated 33 million children would need to be vaccinated in Africa between 2023 and 2025.
According to her, such will put the continent back on track to achieve the 2030 global immunization goals that include reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“In the Africa Region, WHO estimate show that the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine immunization services has driven up the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children
“The effect causes rising by 16 per cent between 2019 and 2021 and pushing the cumulative total (2019–2021) to around 33 million, which represents nearly half the global estimate.
“In Nigeria, WHO estimates that in 2019 to 2021, 6.2 million children are zero dose; a consequence of the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic,”she said.
According to her, reaching these children will require renewed and intensified efforts by governments and partners.
Moeti said that to galvanise the commitments required, WHO conducted a high-level event during the African Union Summit in February 2023.
“At the summit, African Heads of State endorsed a declaration aimed at revamping and scaling up routine immunisation across the continent.
“Also, to implementing urgent measures to address persistent bottlenecks in vaccine and health care delivery systems,” she said.
The Regional Director said the day was a global push by WHO and partners to intensify efforts to reach children, who missed vaccinations, as well as to restore and strengthen routine immunization programmes.
“The proactiveness of the government and the National Primary Health Care Agency for implementing the Optimized Outreach Sessions, integration of Routine Immunization during COVID-19 vaccination, Measles and Yellow Fever Supplementary Immunization Activities.
“These are key for the reduction in the high burden of zero-dose children in Nigeria and align the theme for the 2023 AVW celebration.
“The plan to introduce malaria vaccine in routine immunisation and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) in 2023 and 2024 are commendable,
“This is as it aligns with establishing a life-course platform for immunization for optimum dividend from vaccination,” she said.
Moeti said that the day required the full participation of all key stakeholders including the media to communicate with caregivers to take children for routine immunisation services at the nearest health facility.
She encouraged the media to create awareness to enable children who missed their immunisation schedules to go to the nearest health facility to be assessed and vaccinated appropriately.
According to her, it is necessary to encourage community leaders to take responsibility to organise and participate fully in the conduct of immunization sessions including monitoring uptake of vaccines in the community
“We need to encourage traditional and religious leaders with Civil Society Groups to mobilise the community to always demand and access immunisation services.
“The media should let them know that vaccine is safe and effective against vaccine-preventable diseases,” she said.
The Regional Director said that for the organisation support for AVW, it was supporting Nigeria’s full participation in the Regional Working Group for Catch-up to ensure effective planning.
She said it would also ensure resource mobilisation for the 20 countries with high burden of zero dose children in the region.
“WHO since 2015 issued revised immunisation scheduled to support the “Big Catch-up” where children who have missed being vaccinated can be safely vaccinated with appropriate vaccines.
“This is part of over 15 guidelines and strategies issued to countries including Nigeria.
“We are also supporting the NPHCDA engagement with 36 states and the FCT to develop tailored strategies to reach zero dose and unimmunised children.”
According to her, WHO has prioritised technical support for the Zero Dose agenda and the “Big Catch-up” in all the States and the Local Government Areas.
Healthcare facilities under the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) will be receiving visitors from the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) as the agency begins compliance visits.
The Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, while flagging off the Quarter two facility compliance visit said the move is to ensure quality healthcare and customer satisfaction by all its Enrollees.
Commending the Healthcare Providers which have been outstanding in their service delivery to ILERA EKO Enrollees, she noted that LASHMA has also received some negative feedback from the Enrollees about the way that they have been treated by Providers. Therefore, the Agency cannot fold its arms and allow its Enrollees to continue to be disenfranchised by the Providers.
Dr. Zamba said, “The Agency is constantly up on a complaint that follows a particular trend before we act.”
She added that the negative complaints received from Enrollees included drug unavailability, payment for covered services by the Enrollees, bad attitude and rudeness from some of the hospital personnel.
The Permanent Secretary said that during the visits, any hospital that has a high number of complaints, will be given a Letter of warning and if such complaints continue without being checked, LASHMA, will not hesitate to sanction the Hospital in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) Law.
She advised Providers not to hesitate to also report to the Agency any Enrollee who is not of good conduct when visiting the Hospital.
Dr. Zamba urged ILERA EKO Healthcare Providers to ensure that they capture all utilisation by the Enrollees in their respective Hospitals because data collection is key in Health insurance.
The Permanent Secretary said that the State Government would continue to support the Healthcare facilities in terms of training and capacity building to ensure the delivery of quality service to its Enrollees.
She appealed to Healthcare Providers in the State who are not yet empanelled under the Lagos State Health Scheme to do so immediately so that together, the State Government can attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Public and private hospitals visited so far included St. Raphael Hospital, Ikorodu, Ita Elewa Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), Isolo General Hospital, Shomolu General Hospital, R-Jolad Hospital, Bariga, Epe General Hospital, Epe and Akoka Primary Healthcare Centre, Bee-Hees Hospital, Akowonjo, Orile Agege GH, Ifako Ijaiye GH, Epe GH and Badagry PHC, Siloan Medical Centre, Ejigbo.
The Zamfara Commissioner for Health, Dr Aisha Anka has confirmed the outbreak of unknown illness in the state which recorded four deaths and 177 cases so far.
Anka confirmed this in a statement issued in Gusau on Friday by the Information Officer of the ministry, Malam Bello Ibrahim.
According to the commissioner, the disease is characterized by abdominal distension, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, enlarge liver, enlarge spleen, fever and general body weakness.
“The illness is found in Maradun, Shinkafi and Gusau local government areas in the state.
“Children are mostly affected and the cases are associated with water consumptions.
“So far, four deaths have been recorded, 177 cases were detected,” Anka said.
“The incident has been reported to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), partners and all other relevant stakeholders.
“The ministry of health is currently on the emergency response phase to identify the illnesses and causes.
“Various biological human and animal samples, soil samples, water samples, agricultural and foodstuff samples have been taken to Lagos and Abuja laboratories for analysis.
“The ministry will continue to update the general public and all relevant stakeholders and partners on any update about the outbreak,”she added. (
Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to compel intending couples to undergo HIV, hepatitis and sickle cell anaemia screening before marriage.
The passage followed deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during plenary session,
presided over by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore on Monday in Kano.
After deliberations, the lawmakers approved the 3rd reading of the bill, read by the Deputy Clerk, Alhaji Nasiru Magaji.
Shortly after passage of the bill, the Majority Leader of the house, Lawan Hussein (NNPP-Dala), stated that “any person
intending to marry shall first submit self for medical examinations.”
He said the bill was considered and passed after the 3rd reading, following various legislative processes.
The leader further said that the bill was passed because the state had been battling with different health issues, including
HIV because people go into marriages without medical screening.
He said that the bill, if signed into law, would save many lives and curb the spread of life-threatening diseases.
“The bill will safeguard the health of citizens by institutionalising pre-marital testing to check the spread of diseases
like hepatitis, HIV and sickle cell anaemia,” he added.
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