The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on religious leaders and health stakeholders to enhance efforts to vaccinate 2.1 million Nigerian kids who remain unvaccinated.
WHO representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo made this appeal during a two-day engagement meeting on Monday focused on vaccination, maternal health, and child health.
“Despite our efforts, several challenges persist,” Mulombo stated.
He emphasised the importance of continued advocacy in reducing immunity gaps and improving maternal and child health outcomes. “Your support is crucial in addressing the high maternal and under-five mortality rates.
“We still face the issue of many pregnant women not delivery at the health facilities, zero-dose children, with 2.1 million children currently unvaccinated in Nigeria, according to the WUNEIC 2024 report.”
He said that the WHO is partnering with local leaders to promote antenatal care and health facility deliveries, alongside a planned Big Catch-Up Campaign to recover lost immunisations.
Mulombo also provided an update on the ongoing cVPV2 polio outbreak, reporting 70 cases across 14 states as of September 13, 2024.
He noted improvements in vaccination quality, with coverage rising from 87% in March to 95% in April.
“Amidst constraints of global vaccine supply, we continue to implement innovative interventions,” he added, referencing strategies like Identify Enumerate and Vaccinate (IEV) to reach under-vaccinated populations.
