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The Pediatric Association of Nigeria has expressed concern over the increasing rate of zero-dose immunization in the country, claiming that more than 2.5 million Nigerian children remain unvaccinated.
Professor Ekanem Ekure, President-elect of PAN, announced this on Tuesday in Lagos during a news conference titled "Reaching every child with optimal care.".
Ekure, a Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Lagos' College of Medicine, stated, "Nigeria has the largest burden of under-five fatalities in the world, which is not surprising given that Nigeria has the world's highest zero-dose vaccine.
“2.5 million children are yet to be immunized. Children have to take vaccines, so we advocate that parents ensure that children take the vaccine.”
Dr. Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organization Country Representative in Nigeria, stated last year that an estimated 6.2 million Nigerian children went unvaccinated between 2019 and 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The consultant pediatric cardiologist stated that child abuse and malnutrition were preventing children from obtaining the best possible care and that the association was willing to utilize advocacy to reach out to children across the country.
“There is a difference between survival and living. We will train our health workers, and we intend to continue to educate ourselves and our health workers. We want our women to have proper antenatal care. The nutrition of the children is more important than the nutrition of the father.”
He urged Anambra, Gombe, Bauchi, Zamfara, and Kano states to adopt and domesticate the Child Rights Act.
