In a recent survey by the United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef, Nigeria has the highest burden of zero dose globally of 2.1 million, with six states of Adamawa, Bauchi, FCT, Lagos, Niger and Ogun majorly affected.
In Niger state, North-Central Nigeria, the government is collaborating with Unicef that has a grant from the Republic of Korea to strengthen interventions in 10 affected local government areas identified as zero dose burden to immunise hundreds of children in the next eight months.
The local government areas in Niger State identified as affected by terrorism are Bida, Chanchaga, Edati, Gurara, Katcha, Kontagora, Mariga, Rafi, Suleja, and Wushishi, all of which have zero dose.
At a Socialisation Meeting on the Republic of Korea–Unicef partnership grant on maintaining and Strengthening Immunization and Essential Services in 10 prioritised LGAs in the state, Unicef Health Specialist from the Kaduna Field Office, Ahmed Tsofo, disclosed that very strong strategies have been designed to actualise the goal.
For the state government, they will collaborate effectively with Unicef and other partners to see that the state does not experience zero dose going forward.
According to Unicef, they will continue to ensure support for vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria, measles and cholera.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
