Over 30m Children Vaccinated Against Life-Threatening Disease In Five Years

UNICEF has recently reviewed its activities in Nigeria for the period between 2018 and 2023.

As a part of its integrated campaigns against life-threatening diseases, the agency has disclosed that it has successfully vaccinated 30 million children.

This is a remarkable achievement that showcases the dedication of UNICEF towards improving the health and well-being of Nigerian children.

Geoffrey Njoku, the communication specialist for UNICEF Nigeria, has highlighted that the agency has set new four-year targets for Nigeria. These targets aim to further improve the lives of Nigerian children by providing them with better healthcare, education, and protection. UNICEF has always been at the forefront of child welfare, and these new targets are a testament to its commitment to ensuring a better future for Nigerian children.

UNICEF’s efforts to improve the lives of Nigerian children have been exemplary. The successful vaccination of 30 million children is proof of the agency’s tireless work toward providing better healthcare. With the new four-year targets set in place, UNICEF is poised to continue its mission of improving the lives of Nigerian children and securing their future.

The event was themed ‘New Country Programme 2023-2027 and the States of Implementation of the Child Rights Law (2003) in States.’

Njoku said UNICEF plans to support over 10 million children to access formal and non-formal education by 2027.

He listed the targets to include: “Over one million additional children immunised (zero-dose), over 1,700 primary health care facilities in 14 states meet minimum standards, 50 million children aged 6 to 59 months receive Vitamin A twice a year, 10 million children access formal or non-formal education, 4.8 million children access learning materials and 21 states scale up foundational learning and 40 million children will have birth registration.”

Njoku confirmed that UNICEF has reviewed its activities in the life of Nigerian children in the period between 2018 and 2023, which is nearly five years.

According to him, “30 million children were vaccinated through integrated campaigns against life-threatening diseases. 58 million were vaccinated against Polio; the zero-doze strategy was achieved in 100 local councils for reaching underserved children across 18 states while 23 million children also received two doses of Vitamin A in 2022.

“7.4 million Children under the age of five now have birth registration while 35 states have adopted the child rights law, including Kano which was adopted on May 26 this year, leaving Bauchi as the only state that has yet to adopt.

“About 2.8 million children living in conflict-affected areas also received psychological support and 1.5 million girls entered school, using a new evidence-based approach, while five million children benefitted from continued learning during COVID-19, using radio, TV and home-based material.

“Twenty-five million children were covered in the National Social Register, 20 million lived in certified free of open defecation communities, 2.4 million people accessed life-saving water, sanitation and hygiene services, 4 million internally displaced persons and host communities accessed primary health care and 600, 000 children aged 6 to 59 months with severe acute malnutrition were admitted for treatment, 1.3 million children living in conflict-affected areas accessed formal and non-formal education.”

Njoku said all geopolitical zones in Nigeria were covered, with a focus on 20 states, in addition to two nationwide programmes in eight field offices with the programmes focusing mainly on health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH and social policy.