By Felicia Imohimi
Abuja – The Union of National African Paediatric Societies and Associations (UNAPSA) on Tuesday called for adequate funding of immunisation programme in the country.
Dr Dorothy Esangbedo, the President of the association, made the appeal at a side line interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during an immunisation road walk in Abuja.
She described the immunisation rate in Nigeria as an embarrassment due to poor funding.
Quoting from the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) report, Esangbedo decried the low coverage of immunisation in some parts of the country.
She said, for instance, that Sokoto State accounted for three per cent of the poor rate.
The president, who described immunisation as a cost effective and life saving intervention, however noted that it was underutilised in the African continent especially in Nigeria.
She attributed this poor immunisation coverage and rate of under-five death to poor funding of vaccines, among others.
Esangbedo however appealed to political leaders to ensure that immunisation was properly funded and judicious use of such fund in order to address the rate of under-five mortality in country.
“Immunisation of children cannot wait, does not wait because when you immunise and do not sustain it the risk start to fall, you loose children and loose all the money you have earlier spent.
“We appeal to political leaders to make vaccines available that mothers can be encourage to take their children for immunisation to prevent them from vaccines preventable diseases and death.
“It is an intervention that needs sustainability. We appeal to women and parents in general all around Africa to take their children for immunisation because it is potent and saves live,” she said.
Also, Dr Ngozi Ibeziako, President, Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), emphasised that immunisation is cost effective, adding that it brings more return to nation’s economy.
Ibeziako said the immunisation walk was aimed at raising awareness and sensitisation on the necessity of immunisation.
“Political leaders should make sure resources are available and expand the scope of immunisation coverage across the country to reduce the number of our children dying due to vaccine preventable diseases. (NAN)