Kano, Jigawa, Katsina Delay UNICEF’s Target On Routine Immunization

Although Nigeria has made significant progress in the campaign for immunisation of children aged 0-5 years against childhood killer diseases,  Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states in the north have lagged behind and tended to drag the nation backwards in the quest to meet desired targets of the campaign.
The Chief, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Field Officer, Kano, Rahama Farah, stated this while speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Media Dialogue on Routine Immunization and Zero-Dose Campaign, organized by the UNICEF in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in Kano, Wednesday.
Farah said, “for instance, in the three states of the Northwest of Nigeria, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa, there are over 600,000 children who have not been vaccinated against childhood killer diseases”.
According to him, out of the population of unimmunised children in the three states, 300,000 of them are from Kano alone, representing about 50 per cent of unimmunised children from the area.
“Immunisation is the single, most cost-effective, and high-impact intervention which protects children against illness and death caused by vaccine-preventable diseases.
“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 Imnunisation Coverage Survey Results have shown that over the years, Nigeria has made progress in immunisation coverage, however, it is also clear that gaps exist.