PLATEAU State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar Ndam, has disclosed that despite improved immunisation services, there still exists the shortfall of estimated thirty million (30m) children in Africa particularly, Nigeria that suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases each year.
He disclosed this Thursday, while delivering his keynote address on the occasion marking 2023 African Vaccination Week commemoration, held at Epid Unit Children Clinic of the Plateau State Primary Health Care Management Board Jos, the state capital.
The commissioner said, “The goal of other African Vaccine Week (AVW) is to strengthen immunisation programmes in the African region by increasing awareness of the importance of every person (particularly, children and women’s need and right to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Over the last two decades, Africa in particular registered tremendous progress in improving access to immunisation services. But, despite this progress, about 30 million children in Africa are estimated to suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases each year.
“For more than two centuries, vaccine-from the very first vaccine developed to protect against smallpox to COVID-19 vaccines have helped keep people healthy. Since then, families and communities have trusted vaccines to protect their love ones. But the value of vaccine is measured by more than the number of doses given”, he highlighted.
According to Ndam, “This year’s campaign comes at a critical turning point for immunisation. COVID- 19 pandemic disruptions contributed to an increase in the number of children who have never received a single dose of vaccine (zero-dose children) in Plateau State from 31,377 in 2019 to 73, 627 in 2021.
“We must catch-up, restore and strengthen immunisation services to reach the millions of people missing out on the life-saving benefits of vaccines and stop outbreaks from accelerating. It is not surprising that in the last few years, Plateau State has experienced one form of vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or the other.
“As we commemorate this year’s African Vaccination and World Immunisation Week, we declare our commitment to ensuring that people of Plateau State have regular access to vaccines and thus, urge all stakeholders from the public and private sector to align with the immunisation agenda for the African region; “A region where everyone, everywhere and at every age, benefit from vaccines for good health and well-being”, he explained.
However, the Commissioner added that for Plateau to catch up, they must strengthen their collective efforts and ensure regular access to immunisation by prioritising actions targeted towards strengthening health systems, enhancing data systems for decision making and building resilient immunisation programmes among others.
