Nothing is more important in health in Nigeria than giving immunisation

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Bill Gates

In its effort to fight against preventable diseases in Nigeria, the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates has launched the National Routine Immunisation Strategic Plan, (NRISP) to scale up efforts in preventable diseases through efficient immunisation programmes.

Launching the plan in Abuja Monday, Gates said: ?Nothing is more important in health in Nigeria than giving immunisation to children and persons in order to prevent diseases.?

Lamenting the slow manner at which immunisation programmes have been implemented, Gates said, ?vaccination has not operated the way it should be.?

Also speaking at the launch, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said, while diseases like measles and polio have continued to pose challenges, government is putting in place a strategic framework that will bring about optimum results.

Representative of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), Dr. Mercy Ahun said the organisation has commited to the immunisation programme in Nigeria and expects a significant increase with additional new vaccines and health systems support in the new future.

?Nigeria is still home to the wildest inequalities in vaccination coverage by household wealth with more than nine children vaccinated from the richest household compared with just one child from poorest children vaccinated.?

Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad said the new plan provides details and data based on the best strategies needed to implement an accountable and effective immunisation programme.

However, chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote urged the National Assembly to expedite action in passing the health bill, as well as ensure proper funding of the health sector.

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