“Every day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five children and 145 women of childbearing age. Most of these deaths are occurring in northern Nigeria.”
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, disclosed this yesterday, in Abuja at the ongoing two-day engagement on vaccination and maternal and child health with religious leaders from northern Nigeria.
At the event organised by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, with support from NPHCDA, he noted that too many women still die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, and too many children fail to reach their fifth birthday due to preventable diseases.
According to the NPHCDA boss, Nigeria has recorded 70 cases of circulating variant Poliovirus 2 from 46 local councils across 14 northern states.
The meeting was a gathering of distinguished religious leaders, both Christians and Muslims, to discuss critical issues affecting vaccination, maternal and child health in Nigeria.
He said: “Nigeria is witnessing intense transmission of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2, with 70 cVPV2 from 46 local councils across 14 Northern states. This is an indication of continuous transmission of the virus due to low routine immunisation, and refusal of vaccines during polio campaigns.
“This must change. We must ensure that every woman has access to antenatal care, every pregnancy is delivered by trained and skilled midwives and that every child completes their routine immunisation, according to the national schedule, and gets vaccinated every time vaccination teams visit their homes. Together, we must work to create a system that ensures no mother or child is left behind.”
Aina urged the religious leaders to make a renewed commitment to the health of the people and communities.
Similarly, the Country Representative, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Walter Mulombo, commended the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Argungu, and the religious leaders for their steadfastness in the fight to stop the transmission of cVPV2 in communities, strengthening routine immunisation and reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing the country’s challenges.
“The Sultan Foundation’s work exemplifies the power of collaboration. Established to promote sustainable development and social cohesion, the foundation made significant strides in addressing health, education, and economic empowerment.
“By partnering organisations like United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bill Gates Foundation, and other stakeholders, the foundation demonstrates the potential for collective impact,” he said.
