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April 3, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Nigeria: Health Commissioners to Support Immunization"

Africa News Service (www.allafrica.com) (04/02/02)

Nigeria's Minister of Health, Professor Alphonsus Nwosu, announced that the national health services views the immunization of children and adults against polio as a top priority and called for the help of state health officials in eradicating the disease by year's end.  He highlighted how vaccinations are highly effective against disease even in poor regions where there is no health services infrastructures at all; but with financing always a crucial issue, he believes that the nation must look beyond the five-year schedule of GAVI's guaranteed support, using it and other funding opportunities to build a sustainable routine immunization program.  Cold storage facilities have already been built in Abuja, Minna, Warri, and Enugu, and funding has been approved for building more facilities in Bauchi, Lagos, and Kano.  Dr. A. Awosika, the National Coordinator of the National Program on Immunization, added that the 2002 program will include a more aggressive approach to routine immunization compliance, health worker motivation, and training in an effort to create sustainable services.

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