It is unacceptable that 6.2m Nigerian children have never received any vaccine or missed almost all their vaccine, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), has observed.
The association said this is an emergency situation which is fuelling the outbreak of epidemics in the country.
President of PAN, Prof. Olufemi Ogunrinde, spoke in Lagos during a press conference heralding the 2024 PAN Conference kicking off today (Wednesday) to Friday with the theme, “Beyond Strategies and Goals: Reaching Every Child in Nigeria with Optimal Care.”
The President said vaccination is the most cost-effective intervention to prevent the outcome of epidemic and said all stakeholders must come together to tackle misinformation on vaccination which he noted is “at a very high level.”
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Daily Trust reports that since December 2022, Nigeria has been dealing with a severe outbreak of Diphtheria, resulting in 471 deaths, over 7,400 confirmed cases and 12,000 suspected cases as of 28 September 2023.
Nigeria also recently launched a free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14 in addition to the existing vaccination programme.
The PAN President said, “We have unacceptable 6.2m children in Nigeria who have never received any vaccine or missed almost all their vaccines. These so-called zero-dose children are one of the major reasons we are having outbreaks, such as diphtheria in some parts of the country.
“We need to reach every child in the country, irrespective of their location with vaccination and healthcare to guarantee the optimal wellbeing of each Nigerian citizen.
“This will require that we play catch-up with the vaccination programme, spread awareness about immeasurable benefits of vaccination, and counter all misinformation and disinformation that are designed to keep the Nigerian child from getting vaccinated.”
Ogunrinde restated that the children are the country’s “most important national assets and the key to the future of our country.”
Decrying the high level of newborn, infant and under-5 mortality, PAN declared that now is the time to act.
“The year 2030 is around the corner when we should have lowered under-5 mortality to a maximum of 25 child deaths per 1000 live births, and neonatal mortality to a maximum of 12 newborn deaths per 1000 live births. Presently, the number for under-5 mortality is 102 and that for newborn is 34. It is obvious we have an uphill, albeit not an insurmountable task ahead,” he added.
He also added that brain drain is putting extreme pressure on the nation’s healthcare system and on health workers remaining in the country. “The situation is dire, and I want the nation’s leaders to urgently work out pragmatic solutions to produce a national environment that is conducive for growth, development and productivity.
“I dare say that some of these solutions are staring us in the face, requiring only political will to act decisively. We should not leave it until we reach the elastic limit, the point of no return, the state of irreversible shock,” the President added.
