-
Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, WHO, others call for urgent action
From Oluseye Ojo
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified low immunisation coverage, poor sanitation, and malnutrition as the primary causes of the resurgence of polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in Lagos State.
Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Ms Celine Lafoucriere, disclosed this on Tuesday during the 2025 World Immunisation Week and Advocacy Walk for Polio, organised by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with UNICEF.
The advocacy walk mobilised policymakers, community leaders, influencers, youth advocates, development partners, and hundreds of citizens to raise awareness and inspire urgent action to end polio and strengthen routine immunisation.
Starting at the Office of the Lagos State First Lady in Alausa, Ikeja, the walk ended at the Ministry of Health, Lagos State Secretariat. Speakers at the event highlighted the dangers of vaccine misinformation and urged action to combat hesitancy.
Lafoucriere said, “World Immunisation Week and our #Walk for Polio reminds us how far we’ve come but also how far remains to go to ensure Nigerian children are fully immunised. To date, two million Nigerian children remain zero-dose or unimmunised! Since 1974, vaccines have saved over 150 million lives! That represents more than three million lives per year or six lives every minute in the last five decades. Vaccines are extremely powerful! Thanks to global efforts, the world has seen a 99.9 per cent reduction in polio cases since 1988. Before the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, 1,000 children were paralysed every single day.
“Today, the oral polio vaccine has helped prevent 24 million cases of paralysis. But we are not done yet. Right here in Lagos, we are detecting a resurgence of polio. Low immunisation coverage, poor sanitation, and malnutrition are keeping the door open for polio and other vaccine preventable diseases. Routine immunisation is our best bet.”
She stressed the need for public awareness, stating, “Despite the increasing availability of vaccines, some communities only access them during campaigns. This is not sustainable! Routine immunisation must become the norm for every child born in Lagos.” Lafoucriere reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to reaching vulnerable children through outreach and partnerships.
Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, emphasised immunisation as a fundamental right. “The theme for this year’s World Immunisation Week, ‘Humanly Possible: Saving Lives Through Immunisation,’ challenges us to ensure that no child suffers or dies from a disease we have the tools and knowledge to prevent,” she said.
She announced that from 3 to 6 May 2025, the state would participate in National Immunisation Plus Days, offering free oral polio vaccine to children aged 0 to 59 months, with vaccination teams deployed to health facilities and communities.
Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, wife of the Deputy Governor, stated, “It is the responsibility of you and I to ensure every child is vaccinated.” Dr Ibrahim Mustapha, Permanent Secretary of the Family Health Board, described the walk as a call to action, noting that each unvaccinated child poses a public health risk.
Dr Chinenye Okafor, World Health Organisation State Coordinator, warned, “Nigeria risks exporting preventable diseases if hard-to-reach children remain unvaccinated.”
Dr Segun Emiju, State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, called for stronger immunisation systems. Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Bolaji Ogunlende, urged stakeholder collaboration, saying, “We must walk together with every stakeholder.”