AFRO-NETS> Crisis in immunisation programming in Northern Nigeria

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

Crisis in immunisation programming in Northern Nigeria
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A failure of Advocacy?
 
Coming in the wake of the Pfizer Trovoflaxacin debacle in Kano 
State, Northern Nigeria, another public health crisis of signifi-
cant proportion is brewing in the Northeastern State of Sokoto, 
Nigeria. At the centre of this crisis are several stakeholders, 
to wit; the public, traditional and religious leaders, health of-
ficials, government agencies, bilateral and multilateral institu-
tions engaged in Nigeria's immunisation programme.
 
The issues? Well, public health officials in the state, claiming 
to be responding to popular concerns from the citizenry, tradi-
tional and religious leaders allegedly suspended participation in 
the National Programme of Immunisation and particularly the pro-
vision of polio immunisation in the state. Public concerns about 
an alleged covert de-population initiative led by the United 
States of America and coordinated by the WHO, UNICEF and Southern 
elements of the Federal government lie at the centre of the sus-
pension The suspension claim has since been reported denied by 
the same public officials credited for putting it in place. Al-
though the true picture in this crisis may be currently shrouded 
in political deception and obfuscation, it is important to recog-
nize that the real culprits here are people and damage to public 
confidence in essential health programmes. 
 
Could it be that at the core of this crisis lurks a fundamental 
failure of Advocacy programming by some of the key institutions 
responsible for the implementation of the National Programme of 
Immunisation in Nigeria? Read all about it below. Form your own 
opinion and recommend a solution.
 
 
Resources:
Sokoto rejects polio vaccines
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=7519
 
Sokoto denies immunisation claim
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=7599
 
House complete initial polio vaccine probe
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=7598
 
Much ado about immunisation vaccines
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=7643
 
 
A. Odutola
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies
Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com
 
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