Nigeria explains low immunisation coverageDESPITE giant strides recorded in the last 10 years by the Global Funds for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis and Malaria in putting many people on treatment and prevention of these diseases, African ministers of health and finance have raised concern about corruption in health systems of beneficiaries.
They also raised concern over steady and consistently lower success rates of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS proposals as compared to TB and malaria, and that some countries have been repetitively unsuccessful with their proposals with the risk of losing gains made over the years.
Also, Nigeria has blamed the low immunisation coverage in the country on delay in budget approval and release of counterpart funds, even as the country recommends the provision of bridge financing from the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI).
A report released yesterday by GAVI at the ongoing 61st session of the World Health African Regional Committee meeting in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, showed that Nigeria ranks second to India, and followed closely by Democratic Republic of Congo on the list of countries with lowest immunization coverage in the world and highest number of unvaccinated children
The report also showed that African countries have recorded 77 per cent average immunisation coverage and GAVI has secured an additional $4.2 billion to ensure vaccines availability till 2018.
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) charged GAVI to encourage vaccine manufacturing in developing countries to assist in getting the needed vaccines for immunisation programme in these countries.
The FMOH also said the country was set to convene a national vaccine summit in November as part of efforts to ensure adequate awareness in this area.
The FMOH blamed the sudden upsurge in polio cases in the country on loss in momentum in immunisation coverage due to the political transition period and security challenges experienced in some parts of the country.
The WHO yesterday in a draft resolution on poliomyelitis eradication in the African region urged countries with re-established transmission of wild polio virus- Angola, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo- and endemic for poliovirus transmission, Nigeria, to implement priority actions articulated in emergency plans aimed at ensuring interruption of poliovirus transmission within the shortest possible time.
WHO urged all member states of the African region to achieve and maintain routine immunisation coverage of at least 90 per cent.
A report from WHO African Regional Office released yesterday at the WHO African Regional Committee meeting noted that in the Global Funds Round 10, the success rates of proposals in the region were 31 per cent for HIV, 50 per cent for TB and 79 per cent for malaria.
According to the report presented by the Executive Director of the Global Funds, Prof. Michel Kazatchkine, at a consultative meeting with the ministers of health of the African region, there are other challenges related to good governance and transparency among recipients, low capacity for implementation, weak health information system and health system in general.
The Guardian
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