By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Stakeholders in the in Health sector on Monday, revealed that investment of N1 trillion, will address vaccine shortfall in Primary Health Care Centers, PHCs, across Nigeria.Chika Offor Chief Executive Officer, of Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), revealed this at a press conference, organised by VNDC and partners, in commemoration of World Health Day, WHD, in Abuja.

With the theme of the 2025 World Health Day, WHD, ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,’. Chika Offor, commended President Ahmed Tinubu for 2025 budget’s allocation of N231.7 billion for immunization, malaria vaccination, and vaccine tracking, which she said it is a mile stone achievement for Nigeria. According to her, as of December 2023, the future of vaccine financing in Nigeria looked uncertain. She said, “However, by December 2024, there was a breakthrough—the Federal Government released the outstanding funds and allocated 25% of the 2024 vaccine budget.”The 2025 budget’s allocation of N231.7 billion for immunization, malaria vaccination, and vaccine tracking is a significant milestone toward universal vaccine coverage”.She However lamented that the sustainability of these gains is now at risk., because of the exit of USAID funding and diminishing donor support, Nigeria’s vaccine financing is more vulnerable than ever.Offor cried out, “Shrinking fiscal space and competing national priorities further threaten immunization programs. If we do not act swiftly, we risk reversing the progress made in 2024”.She continued, “Vaccines have saved millions of lives and remain central to Nigeria’s health and development goals. In two decades, immunization efforts have, Eradicated the wild poliovirus, Protected over 30 million children under five, Achieved 71% national HPV vaccination coverage, protecting over 12 million girls”.She however said despite all these achievements, Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of zero-dose children—those who have never received any routine vaccine.She noted that the nation cannot afford shortfall of vaccines in the country so she urged the government to include vaccine financing as a first-line charge in the national budget, ensuring timely disbursement and sustainability.She said it is urgent for the Federal Government to establish a predictable and sustainable immunization financing framework. And the National Assembly (NASS) to support the inclusion of vaccine financing as a first-line charge in the annual budget. State and Local Governments also should allocate dedicated vaccine funding, ensure timely budget releases, and establish accountability mechanisms to ensure effective resource utilisation.The Private Sector to actively support vaccine financing at federal, state, and local government levels, recognizing that a healthy population drives economic growth, she said .Former Kwara Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, recently appointed Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), emphasised that uninterrupted funding for immunisation is vital to safeguard Nigeria’s youth, the nation’s most valuable asset.”It is very clear that vaccines saves lives and if we do not champion vaccines proper distribution then we will have serious health implications and it is imperative to increase health financing in Nigeria” he said.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The World Health Organisation, WHO,on Monday, raised alarm over the high ratio of maternal and neonatal mortality, in Nigeria.WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Molumbo, stated this at the 2025 Walk the Talk.”, in commemoration of World Health Day, WHD, in Abuja.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘“Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,”He said, it is imperative for all hands to be on desk in order to accelerate reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality. He added that the walk is to create awareness on the theme for this year, with healthy beginnings and a brighter future, to remind the world of the need to address the unacceptable high maternal, neonatal mortality.According to him, “Every year on the 7th of April we celebrate this day to remember the day WHO, was created by Member States. And this walk is really about raising awareness on the theme for this year, with healthy beginnings and a brighter future, to remind the world of the need to address the unacceptable high maternal, neonatal mortality. But also, it’s an opportunity to raise awareness on the need to remain active and physically active to maintain our health”.On the latest data on maternal and neonatal, he said, “And the latest one was just published, and I think the Ministry of Health is in a better place to give the figures. But we know from the previous Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, numbers in terms of maternal and neonatal mortality ratio were quite high. And this is why WHO has been working round the clock with the government and partners to accelerate reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality.”And this has been enshrined in the new initiative that was launched by the Ministry of Health and Public Social Welfare, the MAMI, the Initiative to Accelerate Reduction in Mortality of Mothers and Newborns. So, has this improved since the beginning of that initiative? The initiative was launched recently, and it’s meant to accelerate reduction. We are all committed, partners, the government, civil society organizations, and communities to work together to reduce those numbers as fast as we can. “Yes, like I said before, the MAMI initiative has been recently launched to accelerate improvement in maternal, child, and neonatal health. And the WHO continues to work alongside the government to improve guidelines and strategies and to work alongside health care workers to make sure that those improvements that we are expecting actually materialize. It’s everybody’s duty, if I might say.”It’s not about them and us. It’s about all of us together toward achieving that goal by 2030”. Molumbo, therefore assured that WHO would continue work with the three tiers of government, with a sense of urgency to address the challenges. Meanwhile, in a press statement issued in commemoration of World Health Day, WHO, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, said, the African region has made progress in lowering maternal mortality since 2000 but needs a 12-fold increase in the annual reduction rate to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, new estimates by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Interagency Group show.The statement reads, “Despite a 40% decline in maternal mortality, from 727 to 442 deaths per 100 000 live births between 2000 and 2023, the region still accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths. Each year, an estimated 178 000 mothers and 1 million newborns die in the Africa region – many from preventable causes.”At the current annual reduction rate of 2.2% between 2000 and 2023, the region is projected to have nearly 350 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, five times higher than the SDG target of fewer than 70 deaths.”Likewise, although stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates have declined by 30% and 33% respectively between 2000 and 2023, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for 47% of stillbirths and 46% of global newborn deaths. The region is projected to record neonatal mortality rate of about twice the SDG target of at least as low as 12 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030”. “In too many places, pregnancy and childbirth are still life-threatening events. “But it doesn’t have to be this way. Every dollar invested in maternal and newborn health delivers major returns: healthier families, stronger societies and sustainable economic growth.”

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Benue State chapter, has appealed to traditional rulers in Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas to immediately liaise with the state government and other critical stakeholders to establish a joint traditional security committee.

Chairman of the association in the state , Ardo Mohammed Risku who made the appeal at a press conference in Makurdi at the weekend said that the committee would be able to expose the criminal elements in zone c area of the state. He suggested that the committee should accommodate conventional security agencies, traditional rulers and Miyietti members, adding that when, constituted, would assist the conventional security personnel curb the on going skirmishes in the Benue South Senatorial District. He lamented that Fulani herders in Idoma kingdom have suffered so much lost in the hands of their host communities resulting to the death of their members, lost of cows and burning down of their shelters due to lack of understanding and cooperation amongst stakeholders.The chairman of Miyietti Allah who is who also the Ardo in zone c, commended governor Hyacinth Alia for his peace effort, saying that Fulani herders have enjoyed relative peace under his administration. “In the beginning of this year, there was a peace agreement signed between Agatu local government council chairman, Agatu stakeholders and Fulanis where it was agreed that we should all live together as one.”Similar peace agreement was signed between the people of Apa local government area, some traditional rulers from Adoka community in Otukpo local government area, where peace committees were setup and since then, relative peace between Fulanis and the farmers are being witnessed.”What is happening now in zone c for the past few days where Fulanis are being accused of kidnapping is worrisome. Therefore, I am begging the traditional rulers of Otukpo and that of Ohimini local government areas to immediately constitute a joint traditional security committee so that, where there is kidnapping syndicate anywhere we will be able to trace and arrest them.”We are worry that Fulanis are not getting the needed support from our host communities in zone c to enable us fight crime. Some of our host communities are chasing us away from their areas after we committed no offence.”Only recently, youth in Otukpo Icho community in Otukpo local government area, demanded that all Fulanis should vacate their community. I view such action as uncalled for and unnecessary, hence we are one Nigeria and I have no capacity to ask any individual to leave a particular place”, Risku said.He appealed to Benue State government to give listening ears to the plights of Fulani herders in the state, saying that just this month of April, no fewer than 8 herders have been killed, with five cows killed and eight others badly injured.The Ardo however accused the chairman of Otukpo local government area of frustrating the herders and farmers peace move in his area, saying that the chairman has vehemently refused to see him or answer calls.But the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Maxwell Ogiri dismissed the allegation, saying that it was not true that he is frustrating Fulani herders and farmers peace agreement in his domain.Ogiri however, accused the chairman of Miyietti Allah of the brain behind all the kidnapping and other criminality in zone c.”Even though I do not know the personality you are talking about, I have never met with him. Am an open leader that every body have access to. I don’t move with security or rectinue of aides that can blockage people from have accessing me.”So, whatever he said that they made attempt to meet with me wasn’t true. But however, there is one I thought he is the leader of Fulani in zone whom they called Ardo, I have his number and I have made attempts to called him on occasions and I couldn’t get him until they told me he resides not in Otukpo Local Government but somewhere in Ohimini.”Now, if we must put things in the right perspective, a lots of people including fulanis that have become victims of these skirmishes, have accused that Ardo of the brain behind the issues of insecurity in Otukpo Local Government Area and Idoma in general. A lots of hands points towards him.”However, I have directed the DSS as at that time that they should create an opportunity between him and I to see how we can talk. Let us see what is their grievances and for taking arms against communities that have given them the opportunity to graze their cows and have a good livelihoods.”They should know that this state is still under the ban on open grazing, the law is still in force and if you want to do anything otherwise against the law, it should be an understanding between the community and probably the government. And am not sure that anything of such has ever happened between the community and the government that there is a relax of that law.”So, I don’t know where he is coming from, because as a leader of Fulanis, all the attacks that have been happening in recent times, kidnappings, armed robberies have the faces of Fulanis. Iam ashamed that he is out to even try to defend them. “Am ashamed that he can even publicly defend his people that they are the face the evils that are against the society. I have quarrel a lots of people who believe that they should do negotiation or understanding with Fulani herdsmen and I have told them rightly that you cannot discuss with illegality.” All we need to happen in Idoma land and also in Benue State at large, is the enforcement of the law against open grazing. With that, we can have the peace that is needed in the land”, Ogiri said