The Save the Children International Nigeria (SCIN); has tasked the Federal Government and stakeholders to end childhood deaths from preventable diseases.
According to SCIN, immunizations prevent disabilities and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases, including diphtheria, hepatitis, measles and pneumonia.
Save the Children Interim Country Director, Shannon Ward, stated, yesterday (Tuesday), in Maiduguri to mark World Immunization Week for global health and development.
thatThis is contained in a press statement made available to newsmen by Kunle Olawoyin, Media and Communication Manager.
“For over 200 years, vaccines have protected us against diseases,” he said, adding that they led generations of people to grow and thrive across the globe.
He said that vaccines help eradicate childhood diseases and save millions of children’s lives each year.
Besides, he added that data has shown that global vaccination rates have dropped to levels not seen in a decade.
He noted that 3.5 million fewer children are receiving vaccines in 2020 compared to 2019.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the disruption of immunization services,” he lamented, adding that millions of children are at greater risk of missing out on critical vaccinations against various diseases.
According to him, immunization saves millions of lives and recognized as one of the world’s most successful health interventions.
“Every child needs to be vaccinated against preventable diseases,” he declared, warning that diseases can negatively impact the quality of life and cause death.
He noted that there should be increased emphasis and training for health workers and communities on the benefits of immunization.
The World Immunization Week with the theme tagged: “Long Life for All,” highlights the collective action to promote the use of vaccines against preventable diseases.
