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As the world commemorates World Immunisation Week, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria has urged governments and stakeholders at all levels to accelerate actions toward reducing and ending under-5 mortality rate of children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2021 indicated that about one in 10 children in Nigeria die before their 5th birthday. Hence, all stakeholders should strive to ensure that no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday.
Furthermore, according to the findings of the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) & National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS) carried out by the NBS as part of the global MICS programme, the infant mortality rate is 63 deaths per 1,000 live births for the five-year period preceding the survey, while the under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) for the same period is 102 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The neonatal mortality rate is 34 deaths per 1000 live births. Child mortality is 42 deaths per 1,000 live births. The under-5 mortality rate of children born in the poorest households (133 per 1000) was nearly three times the under-5 mortality rate for children born in the richest households (47 per 1000). SCI Nigeria believes that immunisation saves millions of lives, and it is recognised as one of the world’s most successful health interventions.
The benefits of vaccines are fully realised when children receive all recommended vaccine doses in a timely manner. Immunisation coverage in Nigeria is below the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) goals, i.e., only 36 per cent of children aged 12- 23 months received all recommended vaccines and 18 per cent did not receive any, putting a substantial number of children at risk of vaccine preventable diseases.
Substantially more children are fully vaccinated in the southern zones compared to the northern zones, according to the NICS, 2021. Therefore, we would like to urge all stakeholders to continue to build strong political commitment for an increased immunisation coverage and other primary healthcare interventions, thus contributing to increased domestic investment in health to meet the Abuja Declaration of 15 per cent (2011) as against the present eight per cent budgetary allocation to health by Nigeria in 2023 at the national level.
SCI Nigeria will work with partners and stakeholders towards ensuring that increased health spending directly improves child health services, including removing catastrophic health spending, reducing non-financial barriers to accessing care, and prioritising primary health services in Nigeria.
Faton Krasniqi, Acting Country Director, SCI Nigeria said, “There is an urgent need to empower Ward Development Committees (WDC) at the sub-national level to drive accountability processes; as well as promote community action; expand stakeholder base to include local communities including pastoralists to ensure vaccines reach difficult terrains; and strengthen coordination, collaboration and implement accountability frameworks for routine immunisation with a view to improving community engagement to increase uptake of routine immunisation services in Nigeria.”
This year, WIW’s (24th- 30th April 2023) theme of ‘The Big Catch-Up’ aimed at highlighting the collective action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The theme underpins the need to reach the millions of children who missed out on vaccines, restore essential immunisation coverage, and strengthen primary health care to deliver immunisation.
On his part, Amanuel Mamo, Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communication and Media, SCI Nigeria said, “Going forward, we should create an enabling environment and strengthen the three gateways to deliver Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) as the principal funding vehicle for the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) which includes immunisations integrated with other services and implemented at primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria, using data to drive decision-making while ensuring the implementation of the zero-dose operational plan (Z-DOP)”.
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