UNICEF: Over 600k children not immunised in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) says there are more than 600,000 children in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa who are yet to be immunised against deadly diseases.

Rahama Farah, chief UNICEF field officer, spoke on Wednesday at a media dialogue on routine immunisation and zero dose campaign in Kano.

Farah said majority of the unvaccinated children are in Kano, adding that implementing the Nigeria primary health care policy will help capture unimmunised children in rural areas.

“In the three states of the north-west of Nigeria: Kano, Katsina and Jigawa, there are over 600,000 children who have not been vaccinated against childhood killer diseases,” NAN quoted Farah as saying.

“This is closer to about 40 per cent of the total unimmunised children in Nigeria.

“Over 300,000 of those children are in Kano state, representing 50 per cent of the three states under the UNICEF Kano office.

“This situation is unacceptable and should be reversed urgently.”

He said the governments of the three states should prioritise interventions by providing essential medical services and improving primary healthcare centres in the region.

“Immunisation is the single, most cost-effective, and high-impact intervention which protects children against illness and death caused by vaccine-preventable diseases,” he added.

“Yet, despite proven safety, efficacy and availability of vaccines, immunisation uptake has not always been optimal.

“Myths, disinformation, misinformation and rumours have contributed a great deal to poor immunisation uptake, exposing children to high risk and death that can be avoidable when they don’t get immunised.

“The National Immunisation Coverage Survey Results have shown that over the years, Nigeria has made progress in immunisation coverage, however, it is also clear that gaps exist.

“As the UN agency mandated for the protection and promotion of children’s rights, we are extremely concerned when children don’t get immunised. When children have no access to immunisation services, their basic fundamental right is not fulfilled.

“I also take this opportunity and urge traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, and civil society organisations, to forge partnerships to eliminate the number of unimmunised children in Nigeria.”

The UNICEF chief called on the media to raise awareness on the importance of immunisation to caregivers, families, and communities.