Rotimi Idris
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has decried the resurgence of polio in Lagos State as a result of wrong perceptions on vaccination by the residents.
The Chief of UNICEF, Lagos Office, Celine Lafoucriere explained that oral polio vaccination, under Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has prevented 24 million cases of paralysis among children, while vaccination has saved 150m lives.
Lafoucriere noted that 2 million Nigerian kids remain zero-dose and unimmunised, despite being exposed to poor sanitation and malnutrition.
She stressed that routine immunization remains the best practice to eradicate polio, calling on Nigerians to embrace the act in order to eradicate the disease and other vaccine preventable diseases in the country.
Lafoucriere stated this on Wednesday in Lagos State during an advocacy walk for Polio in Lagos, to commemorate the just concluded 2025 World Immunization Week and Polio Week activities.
According to her, the purpose of the advocacy walk was to raise awareness among Nigerians and inspire urgent political and community commitment towards ending polio and boosting routine immunization.
She said, “To date 2 million Nigerian children remain zero-dose or unimmunized! Since 1974, vaccines have saved over 150 million lives! That represents more than 3 million lives per year or 6 lives every minute in the last 5 decades.
“Vaccines are extremely powerful! Thanks to global efforts, the world has seen a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1988.bBefore the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, 1,000 children were paralyzed every single day.
“Today, the oral polio vaccine has helped prevent 24 million cases of paralysis. But friends, we are not done yet. Right here in Lagos, we are detecting a resurgence of polio.
“Low immunization coverage, poor sanitation, and malnutrition are keeping the door open for polio and other vaccine preventable diseases. Routine immunization is our best bet.
“We already have the tools — the oral polio vaccine is safe, effective, and it works. But do we have the knowledge and the coverage? Despite the fact that vaccines are powerful proven life saviors, some parts of the population remain misinformed believing in harmful rumors.
“Despite the fact that vaccines are increasingly available, some parts of the population only have access to vaccines during campaigns. This is not sustainable! Routine immunization must become the norm for every child born in Lagos. This is the only way to ensure a calendar of vaccination can be established for every child, ensuring that vaccination is indeed powerful”.
