Dr Faisal Shauib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, has said 800,000 children in six northern states lack access to routine immunisations.
He identified the six northern states as Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, and Sokoto, claiming that caused by banditry and other types of insecurity, they lack access to or were never contacted for routine vaccination.
Shuaib stated that the trend was caused by bandits’ activity in the territories at a strategic conference with traditional leaders of certain remote villages in six states on PHC Delivery conducted in Sokoto.
He described the strategy conference as a watershed moment in their approach to targeting youngsters for preventative illness immunisation.
He stated that the gesture reflected the traditional institutions in the North’s dedication to providing good health care delivery to their people.
Shuaib highlighted that inaccessibility was a significant danger to our attempts to halt the spread of circulating variation poliovirus type 2 (cvpv2), which was now spreading in various states of the country.
He warned that the inability to obtain vaccine will jeopardise previous efforts by rendering additional youngsters exposed to poliovirus infection.
The strategic meeting was organised by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development in conjunction with the NPHCDA.
Shuaib went on to say that the meeting’s goal was to promote effective primary healthcare delivery to the people of the area in particular, and Nigeria in general.
“As respected leaders of our nation, I respectfully implore Your Majesties to consistently advocate for immunisation and other primary healthcare services.
“By utilising your influential and revered position in society to emphasise the significance of regular immunisation and other PHC services to parents and caregivers, we can overcome obstacles and enhance the acceptance of vaccines, ensuring that every child receives these life-saving treatments.
“By taking this action, we can stop the spread of cvpv2 and achieve a comprehensive enhancement in the health and welfare of our communities.
“The HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing the most common types of Human Papilloma Virus that cause cervical and other types of cancers. We would be reaching out to you to help communicate to your communities the importance of these vaccines.”
cc: Punch Ng
