NIFT to FG : Save Nigerian children, make $181million immunisation funds available
As Nigeria begins its transition process from GAVI-the Vaccine Alliance support in Nigeria, about $264million is required for immunisation to be paid for between Nigeria and GAVI, and Nigeria is expected to commit $181million out of the $264million to fund immunisation programme to save nearly 7 million children born yearly.
To this end, the National Immunisation Financing Task Team (NIFT) advocacy committee members have called on the Federal Government to meet its $181million immunisation funding requirement for 2017 and 2018.
NIFT made the call during a 2-day retreat in Lagos organised for NIFT advocacy committee members by Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) with support from Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) to review advocacy strategy and implementation.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the retreat, CHR/PACFaH Project Director, Dr Aminu Magashi urged the federal government to scale-up plans towards fund mobilisation for immunisation, timely and transparent release of the 2016 budget and Nigeria’s commitment must be met.
He said the funds should be factored into the 2017 budget to create sufficient time to order for vaccines needed to save the lives of nearly 7 million children born yearly who will need vaccination.
“We are exploring other advocacy channels to catalyse actions towards domestic funding for sustainable immunisation programmes through the local production of vaccines and. The need for Nigeria to create a Primary Health Care Trust Fund to raise finances for PHC revitalisation which also includes immunisation.
“In times of scares resources for health, it is advised that the Nigerian government begin to plan on how to commence local production of some of the vaccines needed in Nigeria to reduce the funding burden also improve private-public partnership for immunisation financing in Nigeria,” he added.
Head, Advocacy and Communications Department of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mr. Eugene Ivase said due to Nigeria’s transition process from GAVI and insufficient budgetary allocation to vaccines, Nigeria faces an enormous funding gap for the immunization programme because of cost of additional vaccines, expanding birth cohort, loss of funding.
“The government of Nigeria (GoN) through the NPHCDA has made significant progress in Routine Immunization (RI). However, without adequate funding for vaccines the RI system will experience setbacks by way of stock-outs that will lead to deaths from vaccine preventable diseases.”
In an interview with Daily Times, the Project Program Officer, Direct Consult and Logistics, Dr. Obinna Ebirim said, “Vaccine is what everyone should buy into. We should do enough to ensure that all children, no matter where they are, receive the vaccine they need. Example of what lack of access can do is the resurgence of wild polio virus.
“As we all know, some of those areas in Northern Nigeria, vaccinators could not access them. So, we need to address this.”
Adding, Programme Director, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria PSN/PACFaH, Pharmacist Remi Adeseun, said, “The 2016 budget has a lot more that could have been done. Contrary to the provision of the law, the National Health Act provided for 1 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the FG to be compulsorily allocated for health. And that money could have gone into the PHC where the basic illnesses of pneumonia and diarrhea are treated.
“So, the absence of that fund in itself on the government’s side shows inadequate funding as prescribed by law.
“Fortunately, the Minister of Health and other government agencies are working towards ensuring that the 1 per cent of the CRF is included in the 2017 budget”
.Adding, Adeseun said, Nigeria has an Integrated Community State Management Approach (ICSMA) policy where issues of pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria will be managed by community health extension workers who will be trained and supervised to be able to intervene at the PHC Board.
He urged the FG to map out clearer strategy on how to improve domestic resource mobilisation to the fact that the National Immunisation Finance Team has several factors to it. And this retreat is one of it.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Immunisation is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year.
“It is one of the most cost-effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. It has clearly defined target groups; it can be delivered effectively through outreach activities; and vaccination does not require any major lifestyle change.”
Studies have shown that, if a country invests $1 vaccine programme, such country will reap the benefits up to 44 times more. But, if immunization is not prioritised, the most relegated children will not get vaccines, which could mean the difference between life and death.
Experts say, Vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) such as poliomyelitis, rubella, tetanus, pneumonia, diarrhea can affect a child’s growth and put children at risk of further infections.
A study in South Africa shows that 35% of mothers whose children survive meningitis stopped working and quit their jobs to take care of their children.
It has also been stipulated that children in slums, children of less educated parents, children of less empowered women, malnourished children are at greater risk of VPDs.
However, since 70% of Nigerians are living below poverty line, it means that, there are a lot of Nigerians at risk of VPDs.
The 2-day retreat however strengthened a stronger synergy between the indigenous and international Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) for a unified advocacy to achieve one goal equitable access to vaccine for all eligible children.
