EU: Nigeria has a long way to go on immunisation

The European Union (EU) says despite funds invested in Nigeria’s health sector, the country has a long way to go with the immunisation of children.

Ketil Karlsen, EU ambassador to Nigeria and West Africa, made this known at the end of European Union Support to Immunisation Governance (EU-SIGN) seminar in Abuja, on Thursday.

He said the EU has invested over €200 million in support of Nigeria’s health system between 2002 and 2019.

Speaking at the seminar themed: “Improving Immunisation Governance: Progress, Challenges, Good Practices, Lessons and Recommendations for the future,” Karlsen said the union is looking into areas where improvements are required.

“Fundamentally the European Union has provided a very long and consistent support for the health sector in Nigeria. €200million since 2002, straight 17 years non stop we had partnered with Nigeria authorities, specific society and state government,” he said.

“We have come to this crossroad where we need to look at the result and note what we can do differently, what can we do better.”

He said the current state of the health sector brings forth mixed feelings, especially cases in the northern region.

He said it is worrisome that many children in the country are in difficult health conditions.

“We stand here with mixed feelings in the sense that only yesterday we celebrated three years without new cases of polio in Nigeria,” he said.

“It is only possible, thanks to the collaboration between partners, the federal government, state government and also civil society and a number of international organisations.

“But there is still a mixed feeling, nevertheless, because when you look at the numbers, we see that many children are in difficult health conditions.

“UNICEF said one million children below the age of five years in Nigeria die every year and that is really an alarming figure.

“Looking at the immunisation rate in the country, the North in general and the North west in particular, we know that there is a long way to go.”

Karlsen said the EU will continue to support the Nigerian government on its health programmes and policies.