REPORTS from the National Programme on Immunization (NPI) indicate a major decline in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in the country. According to the report of Year 2002 activities just released by the organization, cases of childhood diseases such as measles, tetanus, poliomyelitis, diphtheria and pertussis have continued to reduce steadily since the nation intensified its campaign to boost Routine immunization in the country.

Statistics from the report showed that a total of 42,007 cases of measles were reported in 2002 against 168,986, 110,242 and 217,151 in 2001, 2000, 1999 respectively thus reducing the number of cases per 100,000 population to only 34 in 2002 against 142 cases per 100,000 population in 2001. Also in the year, only 752 cases of neonatal tetanus were reported compared to 1,444 in 2001, 1,703 in 2000 and 2,466 in 1999.

Pertussis, another childhood diseases also witnessed a steady decline from 50,715, 45,231, 34,482 in 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively to 11,894 in 2002 while the reported cases of tuberculosis reduced from 18,574, 19638 and 15, 178 in 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively to 8,153 in 2002.

The report also showed that there were no major outbreak of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis (CSM) and Yellow fever between 1999 and 2002.

NPI attributed the steady decline of the diseases to a renewed drive by the Federal Government since the inception of the Obasanjo administration to develop and implement programmes aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality through the provision of vaccines and immunization services.

The organization listed
specific objectives which the organisation said it pursued vigorously in the year to ensure further reduction of morbidity and mortality of all vaccine preventable diseases in the country. These include ensuring sustainable and quality routine immunization in the year by creating demand for immunization through social mobilization and programme communication and expanding partnerships for improved immunization activities.

This, according to the report, was achieved through a timely distribution of routine vaccines and corresponding quantities of syringes and needles throughout the year. Also, timely distribution and installation of cold chain equipment and logistics materials to all states, local governments and districts were maintained throughout the year. These include solar freezers, gas/electric/kerosine fridges, vaccine carriers, cold boxes, ice-packs, motorcycles and boat engines, bicycles etc.

Other reasons given for the declining trend of the VPDs include the conduct of Multi-Antigen Campaign in focal areas with identified low routine immunization coverage as well as in areas without health facilities; the administration of Vitamin A supplementation during the National Immunization Days (NIDs), the conduct of tetanus and Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) campaigns between 1999 and 2002, increased surveillance at the State and LGA levels and improved partnership co-ordination with Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee members, States and LGAs.

Other achievements on routine immunization include: successful training of health personnel on immunization service delivery, injection safety practices etc, monitoring and evaluation of routine immunization services in 78 out of 144 pilot LGAs in collaboration with partners while also strengthening the remaining LGAs nationwide with vaccine and cold chain equipment, connection of 87.8% of the LGAs cold stores to the national grid and the completion and commissioning of the South-East and South South zonal cold stores/offices in Enugu and Warri respectively.

On supplemental
immunization, the report said remarkable progress was made in the polio eradication initiative as NPI intensified its campaign to eradicate the disease from the country. According to the report, a total of 9,414,296 and 10,104,423 children were immunized in each of the two rounds of Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) held in 164 LGAs and 174 LGAs respectively in April and May.

The report further showed that a total of 35,890,367 and 39,021,842 children were immunized in the two rounds of National Immunization Days (NIDs) conducted throughout the country in October and November respectively while Vitamin A supplementation was administered to children (6-59 months) nationwide during the October round.

Apart from deploying adequate material and financial resources to the states for the implementation of the programme, NPI said adequate number of qualified personnel from NPI and World Health Organization (WHO) were also deployed to the states and LGAs in addition to National and External Consultants in high risk-states, social mobilization consultants in high-rsik states, 774 central facilitators assigned per LGA, 5,514 independent monitors per district and 77,000 vaccination teams utilized nationwide.

The report attributed the success recorded during the SNIDs and NIDs to the adoption of the House to House "Sweep strategy" which allowed specific teams to be permanently stationed in settlements for the duration of the exercise.

"This improved effectiveness of operations and quality of the exercise. In addition, it allowed for effective supervision of teams by all monitors and supervisors, as daily district plans were developed for implementation," the report further said.

According to the report, the acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance system reached an acceptable standard in the year and currently showing a further reduction of the wild polio virus "to a foci in the Northern part of the country."

"The gains made in the polio eradication initiative have also contributed to the improvement of routine immunization services. This window of opportunity was greatly harnessed in the year 2000," the report said.

It will be recalled that Nigeria hosted the 10th Task Force on Immunization (TFI) and 9th African Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (ARICC) early in December which not only commended the fast growing pace of the nation’s Immunization programme but also recommended her new social mobilization strategy to other countries.