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September 11, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Nigeria: Northwest Zone Has Lowest Immunization Rate"

Africa News Service (www.allafrica.com) (09/09/02)

National Program on Immunization chairman Idris Mohammed points to northwest Nigeria as the area with the lowest immunization rate in the country, with southeast Nigeria showing the highest immunization rates.  Health authorities are working to ensure that all areas of the country are 80 percent immunized by 2003, and targeting low vaccination areas is key to meeting this goal. Mohammed says national days for routine immunizations will occur on Thursdays, with immunizations following the World Health Organization's Expanded Program on Immunization training manual. However, due to lack of cold storage in all areas, poor skills, lack of community awareness about vaccines, and a poor surveillance system, the program faces many challenges ahead in Nigeria.  Mohammed did note that, in an effort to address some of these issues, local government areas will receive solar freezers, and training sessions are being organized.

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