As World Immunization and Africa Vaccination week begins, H.E. Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki, Vaccine Champion for Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA) and Founder-President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) has demanded urgent action to address the immunization crisis in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

Globally, one in seven children are excluded from the full benefits of vaccines. World Immunization Week is a World Health Organization campaign to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination. Mrs Saraki raised alarm at the lack of progress in vaccination delivery and coverage in Nigeria and called for urgent action, commenting:

Globally, one in seven children are excluded from the full benefits of vaccines. World Immunization Week is a World Health Organization campaign to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination. Mrs Saraki raised alarm at the lack of progress in vaccination delivery and coverage in Nigeria and called for urgent action, commenting:

“The rate of immunization in Nigeria should be treated as a national health emergency and a global health security issue. The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) has revealed that despite considerable investment - of about $700 million - we only have immunization coverage of around 30%. That is shocking. I cannot overstate the risk of not immunizing our children.”

“It is not only children in Nigeria whose future health is being failed, but also mothers. I am issuing a call to action to prioritise maternal vaccines – tetanus, the anti-D injection for all pregnant women with rhesus negative blood, and HPV catch-up for adult women to protect against cervical cancer.”

“Nigeria is not yet vaccinating for HPV as a matter of routine, and yet cervical cancer along with breast cancer are the biggest killers of women in my country after death in childbirth. The public health sector has only two radiology machines in the entire country that are operational, both at National Hospital in Abuja. One is current working whilst the other will be commissioned soon. That is not sufficient to serve a country of 198 million people.”

“With only one radiology treatment machine currently functioning, it is in Nigeria’s best interest to urgently invest in prevention through vaccination. Prevention is better than cure – but currently most of our citizens are receiving neither.”

“Vaccinations have the ability to protect not just an individual, but a community. An increase of vaccine coverage in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 would prevent 24 million people from falling into poverty due to health expenses. Health workers’ efforts to increase immunization builds, therefore, the foundation for strong primary health care and is a route to universal health coverage. The desire for health for all, based on blanket vaccination coverage, is overwhelming – but families are currently being let down.”