NIGERIA will now be able to prevent five diseases at a go, prevent 396,000 cases of haemophilus influenza type b and save 27,000 lives yearly with the newly introduced pentavalent vaccine, according to the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Gana Mohammed.While to the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI), Nigeria's child mortality rate 'will drop by an estimated 17 per cent, preventing some 30, 000 child deaths every year' when the pentavalent vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine (planned for next year) are fully rolled out.Pentavalent vaccine is a five-in-one version that protects against diphtheria (DPT), whooping cough, tetanus, Hepatitis B (Hep B), and Haemophillus influenza type b (Hib). The new vaccine also named Penta-DTP Hep B Hib.Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, had told The Guardian: 'In 2012, the government led by President Goodluck Jonathan allocated N6 billion for procurement of routine vaccines and new vaccines against pneumonia.'The millions of doses of routine vaccines to be procured directly through United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) will be distributed to all the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for administration to Nigerian children free of charge. In May 2012, we expect the first set of 12 states to introduce the pentavalent vaccine and the rest will follow.'Mohammed at the launch of the official incorporation of the pentavalent vaccine into Nigeria's immunisation schedule held at Eneka Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre in Obio-Akpor Local Government of Rivers State, said the Federal Government has spent over one billion naira in the last two years to expand the nation's cold chain infrastructure at all levels in preparation for incorporation of the new vaccine into Nigeria's Immunisation schedule.He said over 10 million doses of the pentavalent vaccines have been paid for by the Federal Government for distribution to thirteen states and FCT which are the parts of the country implementing the first phase of the pentavalent vaccine immunisation.The executive director disclosed that over seventeen thousand health workers have also been trained to assist in the administration of the pentavalent vaccine in over eight thousand health facilities.Ado explained that the benefitting states in the first phase of the programme include Jigawa, Kaduna, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kwara and FCT. Others are Plateau, Enugu, Anambra, Rivers, Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Ekiti and Lagos States.The rest parts of the country, he assured, would be covered in the next few months.GAVI noted that Nigeria introduced pentavalent vaccine and projected that 72 GAVI-eligible countries will be using this life-saving vaccine by 2013 in their routine immunisation systems.GAVI described Nigeria as 'highly strategic' in efforts reach the final 20 per cent of the world's children who still do not have access to routine immunisation. Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, accounts for an estimated 1.7 million of the 19.3 million children who did not receive routine immunisation in 2010.GAVI also noted that next year, Nigeria is set to introduce pneumococcal vaccines.According to Nigeria's application to GAVI, 'the Nigerian Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) schedule which stipulates that Bacillus Calmette-Gurin (BCG), Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), Diphtheria (DPT), Measles Vaccine (MV), Yellow Fever and Hepatitis B vaccines should be administered to every child in their first year of life in five routine contacts with primary health care services has been expanded to include pentavalent and pneumococcal vaccines.'This application for GAVI support is for the phased introduction of the 10-dose vial penta-valent (DPT-HepB-Hib) vaccine and 2-dose vial pneumococcal (PCV 10) vaccine into the routine EPI program starting in April 2012 and April 2013 respectively. The decision to phase new vaccines introduction was taken to optimize existing capacity for vaccine uptake and therefore minimize wastage. Phasing also reduces the burden on the country's financial resources.'Rivers Sate Governor Rotimi Amaechi disclosed that his administration introduced free universal health care for all in Rivers State because of his commitment to healthy citizenry.The governor who is also the chairman, Nigeria's Governor Forum also disclosed that every person living and working in Rivers State is entitled to free medical care in the state.Amaechi who was represented by his Commissioner for health, Dr. Tamunoiyriari Parker also announced a special programme where pregnant women attending antenatal would be supported on each antenatal visit with some cash incentives.Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Gyang Dantong assured Nigerians of the Senate Commitment to scale up its oversight functions to ensure maximum benefits of funds allocated for health of Nigeria children in particular and the populace in general.Dantong urged Nigerians to donate generously towards vaccine for immunization and advocated thorough immunization of all Nigerian children.Programme Manager, GAVI in Geneva, Dr. Par Eriksson, emphasized the need for health worker and all stakeholders to ensure that every Nigerian child is vaccinated.Other key development partners and institutions which delivered goodwill message on the occasion include the World Health Organisation (WHO) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UNICEF, Rotary Plus, Traditional rulers, National Council of Women Societies, MDGs Office, Presidency, Junior Chambers International and GlaxoSmithkline (GSK).Highlight of the occasion was the official administration of the pentavalent vaccine to Baby Christabel Emmanuel as the first Nigerian Child to be so vaccinated by Parker.
Click here to read full news..
