The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure effective vaccination delivery, especially among displaced persons in Nigeria’s North Central region.
Speaking during a Zoom meeting at the Media Dialogue on the 2025 World Immunisation Week, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, a Health Specialist at UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, assured that UNICEF has contingency plans in place to reach those persons who are recently displaced in Benue State with life-saving vaccines.
The media dialogue, which was organised by UNICEF Enugu Field Office in partnership with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA), highlighted the theme of this year’s World Immunisation Week: “Immunisation for all is humanly possible.”
Read Also: UNICEF provides 3m supplements to boost maternal health in Nigeria
Dr. Anyanyo explained that although insecurity and the large geographical spread of internally displaced persons (IDPs) pose significant challenges, UNICEF is committed to reaching the vulnerable populations.
She revealed that the organisation already has a presence in 11 IDP camps across Benue State but stressed that the scale of the need is overwhelming.
“The geographical space of the displaced is quite much, but we have contingency plans to reach the newly displaced and ensure impactful interventions.
She noted that although the needs are many, and the demand is huge but it cannot be left to partners alone, urged government to play its roles in the various areas.
She also pointed out that funding gaps, misinformation, insecurity, and the vastness of affected areas continue to hinder vaccination efforts. She appealed for more collaboration from all sectors, emphasizing that no single organisation could tackle the challenges alone.
Adding to the conversation, Dr. Olusoji Akinyele, another Health Specialist with the Enugu Field Office, described vaccines as “one of humanity’s greatest achievements.”
He noted that vaccination has contributed to a 40 percent reduction in infant mortality rates globally, allowing more children to live beyond their first birthdays than at any other time in history. ”
“Vaccines have helped check disease outbreaks. It has helped save the lives of people of all ages. The vaccination of one individual helps to keep others safe. That is how important vaccination is to humans, ” Dr. Akinyele said.
Also speaking, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, UNICEF’s Communication Officer in Enugu, stressed the critical role of media practitioners in driving awareness and ensuring the success of immunisation efforts.
She urged journalists to actively support public health campaigns by educating communities and countering misinformation.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, emphasized the significance of World Immunisation Week and the need to achieve targeted vaccination coverage to protect every child.
The Director General of BCA, Francis Nwubani, also lauded recent scientific advances in vaccine development, highlighting the positive impact of newer vaccines against diseases such as malaria, HPV, cholera, meningitis, RSV, Ebola, and mpox.
“More lives are now being saved among people of all ages,” Nwubani said.
