Abuja, 05 May 2015 - Due to the insurgency that has affected parts of Nigeria; with the attendant humanitarian crisis threatening  huge numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPS) from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Bauchi States, the WHO Regional Director for the African Region Dr Matshidiso Moeti on 07 April 2015 signed a declaration of Nigeria as an “Internal grade 2 Emergency”.

Consequently, during the 2015 Africa Vaccination Week (AVW), over three thousand children less than five years of age in IDP camps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja received oral polio vaccines (OPV) while 2,118 children received measles vaccines. Meningitis vaccine was also administered to 2,387 children and young people (aged 1 – 29 years) living in the camps.

While flagging off the event in one of the seven  IDP camps on 25 April 2015, the Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, disclosed that  there are over 14,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing within the FCT. He added that health camps were established to provide immunizations and other healthcare interventions to IDPs living in three area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of the activities to mark this year’s African Vaccination Week (AVW).

The World Health Organization Country Office (WCO), in collaboration with the Nigerian government, coordinated the provision of immunization services, accelerated disease control and surveillance for early detection of outbreaks, investigation and response; and life-saving newborn, child and maternal health interventions

The various events and activities conducted during the vaccination week in Nigeria focused on creating demand and increasing awareness about immunization activities. To further emphasize and respond to this year’s theme, outreach vaccinations integrated with child survival interventions were organized to target vulnerable, underserved and hard to reach communities particularly the IDPs.

Media blitz on immunization:

The fifth edition of the AVW in Nigeria kicked off with a national media briefing by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), during which the WHO Country Representative, Dr Rui Gama Vaz, and the Executive Director (ED) of NPHCDA, Dr Ado Muhammed, explained the benefits of immunization and encouraged caregivers, stakeholders to see immunization as everybody’s business. The ED used the occasion to reveal federal government’s resolve to develop indigenous vaccines in order to reduce the cost of immunization.

Similarly in Kaduna, AVW week was celebrated by Journalists Against Polio (JAP) who visited non-compliant communities in the state to sensitize them about the benefits of immunization. JAP also organized some media activities that included radio discussion programmes in Hausa and English languages.

Throughout the month of April the airwaves were abuzz with radio and TV jingles, emphasizing the importance of immunization and encouraging caregivers to take their children to the nearest immunization clinic.

Building Partnerships and community ownership across the states:

In an attempt to create ownership of the AVW event and form partnerships, an advocacy meeting with various immunization stakeholders that included the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria FCT (PSN-FCT, National Association of Nigeria Pediatric Nurses,  FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Nigeria Medical Association NMA/Association of General & Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria (and Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria) attended the meeting. The results of this advocacy effort were visible during the flag off ceremony of AVW in the FCT.

In a related development, a traditional leader in Edo state, the Queen Mother (ESON) added pomp and pageantry to the launch of AVW in the state. As part of the activities to mark the week, the Queen mother distributed cups to women and children and went on to sensitize market women in Santana market in Benin City.

Marking the AVW in the North Western part of Nigeria, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Sokoto State, Comrade Ibrahim Jibrin, reiterated the importance of vaccination and urged parents to “take advantage of the well-equipped health facilities that have been provided in all the wards in the states”. School children added colour to the AVW day in the state.

Nigeria like most countries in the African region commemorated the AVW from the 24 - 30 April 2015. The week-long event was preceded by planning activities which started six weeks prior to the scheduled implementation of various activities all over the country. This year’s AVW could not have come at better time than when Nigeria was implementing the Polio National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) as most states took advantage of the NIDs to sensitize communities about the benefits of immunizations.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical contacts:

Dr Rachel Siruyange; Tel: +234 810 221 0092; Email: seruyanger [at] who.int
Ms Kulchumi Hammanyero: Tel: +234 803 632 7360; Email: hammanyerok [at] who.int
Media contact:

Ms Charity Warigon; Tel: +234 810 221 0093; Email: warigonc [at] who.int
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Below:

01. A child receiving oral polio vaccine.

02. ESON (Queen Mother) sensitizing women in a market in Benin City.