4.3m children unimmunized
In the light of a weak health system and poor economic indices, Nigeria is seeking for an extension of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) support until 2028. This comes as over 4.3 million children in Nigeria still remain unimmunized despite demostrable evidence of vaccine availability.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at a breakfast meeting with private sector and partners of immunisation financing in Abuja, to commemorate with other African countries to observe the African Vaccination Week. Dr. Shuaib further disclosed that Nigeria will need $2.72b for procurement of vaccine for the next 10 years to attain 84% sustainable national immunisation coverage in 2028.
According to him, new vaccines will be introduced in 2019 to 2021, adding that states and local government areas will have routine immunisation to ensure every child get the vaccine they need. He said: “We have to roll out a road map in financing vaccine because in the next two years, Nigeria will be graduating from GAVI support. Although talk is going on in that regards. If the GAVI board approves, then it is possible for an extension of 7 years.
“Nigeria will require $1.95b to procure Routine Immunisation and Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) vaccines and devices from 2018 to 2028, while GAVI will support with $773.2m within the same period.” He also added that with the full transition from GAVI supported vaccine procurement in 2029, Nigeria will require at least $295m annually to continue the programme. The Executive Director said: “Nigeria will require a total of $850.6m, with $121.9m for capital expenditure and $728.7m for recurrent expenditure, to implement the Nigeria’s Strategy for Immunization and PHC System Strengthening (NSIPSS). “This includes cost of leadership, management and coordination, data management, demand creation, service delivery, supply chain management and Non-polio SIAs.
“We are doing more than strategizing. As part of the African vaccination week, we are putting our words into action; we are going out to the most vulnerable states when it comes to routine immunization and we are rolling out what is called Optimized Routine Immunization Strategy (ORIS).”
In his remark, Country Representative, World Health Organisation, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu said, the declaration of state of emergency on routine immunization by NPHCDA has demonstrated that government was ready to adopt relevant strategies to reach a huge number of unvaccinated children. Alemu said: “WHO and partners are encouraged by these positive developments and are ever ready to support the government of the Nigeria through the NPHCDA to improve the health of Nigerian children.
“This year African Vaccination Week is happening at a time Nigeria’s immunisation landscape was witnessing some important changes. “Nigeria’s accelerated transition from GAVI funding is under consideration at the Gavi Board and there is also an imminent ramp down in resources from the Global Polio.” Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, emphasized the significant of routine immunization the primary health care.
He said: “Prevention they say is better than cure, but we have heard in clear prove that prevention is cheaper than cure and very cost effective. “Within the next ten years we have to prepare as a country to be on our own, ultimately we have to create the road map to get into that destination.”
The African vaccination week is an annual event celebrated every last week of April. The event is expected to run from 23rd to 29th, with the theme: ‘Vaccine Work, Be an Immunization Champion’. The theme draws attention on the need to raise awareness about the critical importance of full immunization throughout life, and its role in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
