Nigerian Government releases N35b to support Measles campaign

The Executive Secretary of Primary Health care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, says the prompt release of funds by the Nigerian government towards the 2017 measles campaign is an indication of the government’s commitment to save lives.

He made the revelation while addressing journalists on the planned Nigeria’s Measles Campaign, in Abuja.

He said that the measles campaign, that would start in October 2017.

“Persistently, low routine measles follow up Sub national Immunization Activities, SIA coverage in 2013 (74%) and 2015 (84.5%) have resulted in a population immunity profile that has allowed increased transmission of measles virus among children 10 years older resulting  tomorbidity and mortality. Movement of internally displaced people from recently liberated security threatened areas is also likely to have caused increased susceptibility and exposure among local populations”, he said.

The Executive Secretary also said that case-based measles surveillance that has satisfied key surveillance performance indicators since 2012 indicates that measles virus transmission is extensive throughout the country.“These outbreaks occur in spite of the 2015 measles follow up campaigns. Approximately 2.4% of all children with laboratory confirmed cases of measles die, likely precipitated by malnutrition and or vitamin A deficiency.

Vaccination status among confirmed cases indicates that majority of cases have never been vaccinated with measles vaccine, consistent with inadequate levels of immunization coverage” ,he said.

The number of outbreaks has increased from 166 affecting 140 local governments areas to 183 affecting 158 Local Government areas in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Survellance data shows that there was a steady increase in measles incidence among children under 5 years in the North from 190/ million in 2014 to 527/ million in 2016″ , he added.

He  also noted that the proportion of measles cases among children aged 5 and 10 years in the North has been rising steadily since 2014, 79.4% and 19.1% respectively in 2016.

According to Dr. Shuaib, in the Southern Nigeria States, the incidence decreased from 111/ million in 2014, to 11/ million in 2016, which is still above the desired less than 5 per million populations.

He said the 2017\2018 measles Vaccination Campaign will focus on children ages 9 months to 59 months and it would be implemented in phases from October 2017 to March 2018. And 95% national coverage is expected.

The NPHCDA boss added that 22 States and  the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are yet to approve the campaign. The states that have approved but are yet to release their counter part funding are Kaduna, Zamfara and Jigawa states.

Kano State has released N9 million out of N66 million, the remaining is to be paid by the local governments. And Kebbi, Borno, Nassarawa and Imo states have released their counter part funding as well.

Shuaib, therefore, said that any state that fails to release its counterpart funding by 15 of September, 2017 would not participate in the vaccination campaign.



VON.