The Senate Committee on Health has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing immunisation efforts, pledging to ensure the timely release of funds to support frontline workers and boost vaccination drives nationwide.

The committee’s Chairman, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Barigo, made the commitment on Monday during an outreach and sensitization exercise in the Galadimawa community, FCT, in commemoration of the 2025 World Immunization Day celebration.

The event tagged, “World Immunisation Day: Immunisation is Humanly Possible for All” was organised by the committee in collaboration with Caywood Brown Foundation, and other partners.

Harry-Barigo, while noting the importance of immunisation to saving lives and improving health, said the community outreach would help to cancel myths against vaccination.

“As a committee on the Senate, we are always trying to make sure that we provide enough budget appropriation for immunisation,” she said.

Dr. Ruqaya Wamakko, Acting Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, stressed the need to ensure that all children are immunized to prevent diseases.

“We urge every household to bring out their children for this vaccination. It is our responsibility to ensure we vaccinate our children and protect them against diseases.

“We also urge all traditional, religious leaders, household’ heads and women to allow their children access to this initiative,” she said.

Similarly, Mrs. Chika Offor, CEO of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, stated that as Nigeria targets 106 million children, vaccination is one of the activities the network is deploying to support the government.

In the same vein, Emmanuel Alhassan, Country Director of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), emphasized the importance of funding to improve access to immunization.

“It is very significant because there are so many vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination is crucial, which is why partners are coming together to support the government’s ambitious target of reaching 106 million children.

“It is achievable, and we will continue to advocate that they should increase funding in a sustainable manner for immunisation and strengthening of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the country,” he said.

Some of the residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), expressed appreciation for the stakeholders’ initiative, which they said would improve the health status of their children and protect them against diseases.

The stakeholders also engaged in a road show and a sensitisation exercise around the community to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation.

Vanguard News