Nigeria consolidates efforts to curtail vaccine hesitancy

Abuja 21 March 2019 – In 2018, insecticide treated nets were distributed by well-meaning individuals in Jigawa and Katsina State. However, the nets were poorly distributed and it caused a lot of discontent in the two states. As a result, caregivers such as Aishatu Mani refused to take her four month old for immunizations. “I am not happy I didn’t get a mosquito net, for this reason, I will not take my child for vaccination,” she told the community health workers. 

Vaccine hesitancy is one of the major challenges facing the immunisation programme in Nigeria.

Nigerian women are penetrating enclaves to reach children and vulnerable populations...

Abuja, 13 March 2019 - “In Northern Nigeria where I work as a nurse and polio vaccinator, only women are allowed to enter houses because most women in this part of the country are in purdah (practice of seclusion)”, says Ramatu Garba of Dala Local Government in Kano State.
Not only that, many times, mothers require the permission of their spouses to take ailing children to hospitals.

Nigeria's call to action - Time to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria

Abuja, 06 February 2019 – As Nigeria joins the world to mark the World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has made a call for a renewed fight against cancer. The World Cancer Day is commemorated on the 4th of February every year and it serves as a platform to raise awareness, educate the populace and press for action from governments and individuals. This year’s theme: “I Am and I Will”, urges individuals to make renewed personal commitments against cancer.

WHO scales up Lassa fever response in affected states

Abuja, 1 February 2019 - The World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up response to the Lassa fever outbreaks in states across Nigeria to strengthen rapid containment of the disease.  WHO is mobilizing experts to intervene in investigations, contact-tracing, risk communication and plans are underway to strengthen efforts to further assist Nigeria in controlling the Lassa fever outbreak. 

On 21 January 2019, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) declared an outbreak of Lassa fever following an increase in the number of cases.