In a concerted effort to raise awareness and enhance routine immunization among children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with state primary health care development agencies, has engaged the media to disseminate information to the general public.
The two-day dialogue with journalists from Abuja, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto States was held at the Sokoto Guest Inn on Saturday.
In her remarks, Dr. Maryam Said, the UNICEF Chief Field Officer in Sokoto, highlighted the lack of routine immunization as a major contributing factor affecting children under five years of age.
“The states covered by the Sokoto Field office have the highest burden of unimmunized children in Nigeria, with 22 Local Government Areas (LGAs) out of the 100 high burden zero-dose LGAs in Nigeria. The recent outbreaks of Diphtheria in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states were found to have occurred in locations with zero-dose children.
“This underscores the imperative of strengthening routine immunization, as the outbreaks signal the danger posed to children’s lives by low immunization coverage levels.
“It is essential to build on UNICEF’s robust partnership with the media to sustain messaging on the importance of routine immunization, highlighting actions that parents, caregivers, communities, traditional and religious leaders, decision-makers, and stakeholders should take to promote routine immunization.”
In his remarks, the Director of Public Health at the Sokoto State Ministry of Health called on the general public to consider the negative effects of zero doses on children. He emphasized that complete immunization of children helps protect them against tuberculosis and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
He noted that Nigeria is among the top three nations contributing to the high prevalence of vaccine-preventable diseases globally.
Alhaji Sani Umar Jabi, a traditional ruler in Sokoto State and the District Head of Gagi community, urged the government and other stakeholders in the state to contribute to the campaign for zero-dose reduction. He emphasized that immunization campaigns extend beyond the government or individuals, emphasizing the need for collective efforts from society.
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