Immunisation implementions slow – Bill Gates

Founder of Microsoft and Co-Founder of the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates
yesterday in Abuja launched the National Routine
Immunisation Strategic Plan, (NRISP).
Launching the plan, Gates said, "nothing is more
important in health in Nigeria than giving
immunisation to children and persons in order to
prevent diseases."
Gates lamented that the manner at which
immunisation programmes have been implemented
had been very slow, stating that, "vaccination has
not operated the way it should be."
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the
new plan will scale up government efforts in
preventable diseases through efficient immunisation
programmes.
Chukwu observed that while diseases like measles
and polio have continued to posed challenges,
government is putting in place a strategic framework
that will bring about optimum results.
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.
Representative of GAVI Alliance, Dr Mercy Ahun said
the organisation has "committed to the
immunisation programme in Nigeria and expect 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 9 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.
The event was attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, His
Eminence, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, UNICEF, WHO,
Save the Children among others.
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