The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Saturday, flagged off the first round of the 2025 National Immunization Plus Days, NIPDs, aimed at strengthening routine immunization and reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among children across the territory.
The campaign, which will run from May 4 to 10, is expected to reach all six Area Councils of the Territory with potent oral polio vaccines administered to children aged 0 to 59 months.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, underscored the urgency of improving immunization coverage to prevent childhood morbidity and mortality.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babagana Adam, the Secretary noted that, “Vaccine preventable diseases has been one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and FCT. In an effort to curtail series of disease outbreak, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, in collaboration with partners has a National Immunization Plus Days, NIPDs, to boost routine immunization coverage in the FCT.”
Dr. Fasawe emphasized the importance of awareness and public engagement in ensuring the success of the campaign.
“More so, there is need to conduct effective communication and mobilization in order to create demand for the vaccine and build public confidence amongst parents and caregivers,” she said.
The Mandate Secretary noted that the FCT Primary Health Care Board is taking proactive steps to ensure maximum coverage during the exercise.
“Although considerable achievements have been made through our different health programmes to reduce disease burden through immunization, we still need to do more to ensure that all mothers, caregivers and eligible children are covered within this period.”
Highlighting a shift in strategy, she said: “I want to, on behalf of the FCT PHCB, inform you that emphasis has shifted from stand-alone vertical campaigns to a more integrated approach like the NIPDs, which exposes caregivers and children to key interventions that improve health status and enable them thrive through both the existing health system and outreach strategy.”
She added that schools, churches, mosques and special places where these eligible children 0–59 months could be found will also be reached with 2 drops of potent Oral Polio Vaccine.
To achieve comprehensive coverage, the FCT has deployed a wide-reaching strategy.
“For this programme, FCT has adopted the following strategies to ensure that all nooks and cranny of FCT residents are reached,” she said. “They are: 154 fixed posts teams to be in the health facilities, and 1,152 house-to-house teams to visit different homes, churches, mosques and special places. No eligible child should miss any of this opportunity.”
Delivering his goodwill message at the event, the Country Representative of the World Health Organization, Dr. Molonbo Walter, stressed the importance of immunization as a fundamental human right for children in the FCT, adding that FCT’s efforts in tackling the diphtheria outbreak were commendable.
Walter further noted that the territory must remain committed to adopting new vaccines and also applauded the FCT health teams for their vigilance and effective surveillance,
On his part, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulahi, who represented the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, lauded the collaborative efforts that led to the successful flag-off of the campaign.
His called for continuous strive towards improved healthcare outcomes across the nation, stating that the NPHCDA’s mission is to ensure the health of Nigeria’s population, particularly those of vulnerable groups like children.
