The Senate Committee on Health has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s immunisation programs, promising to ensure timely release of funds to support frontline health workers and enhance vaccination coverage across the country.
The pledge was made on Monday by the committee’s Chairman, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Barigo, during an outreach and sensitisation exercise in Galadimawa community, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), commemorating World Immunisation Day 2025.
The event, themed “Immunisation is Humanly Possible for All”, was organised in collaboration with the Caywood Brown Foundation and other partners.
Dr. Harry-Barigo stressed the importance of immunisation in saving lives and improving public health, noting that the community engagement would help dispel myths and misconceptions about vaccines.
“As a Senate committee, we continually work to ensure adequate budget allocation for immunisation,” she said, highlighting the critical role of government support in protecting children against preventable diseases.
Dr. Ruqaya Wamakko, Acting Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, urged all households to vaccinate their children, emphasizing that community leaders and families must collaborate to safeguard public health.
Mrs. Chika Offor, CEO of Vaccine Network for Disease Control, pointed out that Nigeria’s target of vaccinating 106 million children requires coordinated efforts and active support from both government and development partners.
Emmanuel Alhassan, Country Director of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), emphasised the need for sustainable funding to strengthen primary healthcare and ensure broad access to immunisation services.
“Vaccination is crucial to preventing a range of diseases. Adequate funding enables frontline workers to reach every child,” he said.
Residents of Galadimawa expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would enhance the health and wellbeing of children.
The outreach team also conducted a roadshow and awareness campaign to further educate the community about the benefits of immunisation.
The exercise underscored the Senate Committee’s determination to support Nigeria’s public health goals while addressing barriers to vaccine access in communities nationwide.
