Paucity of funds threatens reduction of childhood diseases

Speaking during a press briefing to commemorate the Africa vaccination week, Dr Ado Muhammed noted that it takes about N4000 to immunize a child with the previous antigens but with the introduction of the new effective vaccines the cost has gone up, and so addition funds are needed.He added that the number of children to […]

Speaking during a press briefing to commemorate the Africa vaccination week, Dr Ado Muhammed noted that it takes about N4000 to immunize a child with the previous antigens but with the introduction of the new effective vaccines the cost has gone up, and so addition funds are needed.
He added that the number of children to be vaccinated has also gone up with the recent increase in the country’s population, which has made it necessary for government to require further assistance from partners and the private sector.
His words, “It is pertinent to note that vaccination remains the most effective way to ensuring disease prevention and eradication in any given society and as parents/care givers it is mandatory for us to ensure that our family especially children and all eligible persons are protected from the vaccine preventable diseases such as; tuberculosis, tetanus, diphtheria, meningitis etc.”
He continued, “Routine immunization coverage has increased from 61% in 2012 to 92% in 2014, while the cohort of unimmunized children has reduced by 26% in 2014 compared to 2013. Also, drop out rate has reduced from 15% in 2012 to 10% in 2014.
Earlier the World Health Organisation representative, Dr Rui Gama Vaz noted that though the country still had to address issues of weak immunization systems, Nigeria was making some noticeable progress towards the eradication of polio.
He commended the country for its strong surveillance system which according to him has allowed the country to trace any transmission in circulation adding that only six cases has been confirmed so far.