… Let’s Have More Commitments From Governments, Private Companies – SCI
With low funding and inadequate resources, we really need to get minimum of 15% budget allocation for Health which will be timely released and fully utilised with clear cut percentage for routine immunisation not lumped up with other child health issues.
We must seriously be looking inwards to raising funds for sustainability through local industries, companies and corporate organisations using their Community Social Responsibility initiatives.
Also, there’s the need for more commitment from our political office holders from local governments, to states and federal authorities.
KConsidering the increase in allocations coming to states and local governments from federal now, its impact must be seriously felt in issues like immunisation, education, roads, constant and affordable electricity supply and other health issues.
Every citizens must make conscious efforts to follow and monitor the allocations, ask relevant questions on how their tax payers money is spent.
The decline in funds from foreign donors is already threatening immunisation programmes for our children in this country. As a result, there’s a dire need for us to look inwards for sustainability.
As usual, Save the Children International, SCI, has called for increased local funding and stronger stakeholders’engagement to sustain child immunisation programmes in Nigeria.
This appeal came during an advocacy meeting in Lagos on Wednesday. In her address, the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for the BOOST project, Dr. Itunu Dave-Agboola, talked on ways to truly achieve sustainability through engagement of key stakeholders in both government and private organisations.
Dr. Itunu Dave-Agboola speaking at the event.
She urged immunisation advocates to broaden their outreach and secure commitments from government and private sector stakeholders.
According to her, the initiative aimed at improving routine immunisation and reduce the number of “zero-dose” and under-immunised children, particularly in underserved communities.
“Dwindling external funding makes it critical for Nigeria to develop sustainable, locally driven financing mechanisms. We need to learn how to stand on our own, even if donor funding disappears completely,” she said, stressing the need for increased investment not only in funding but also in healthcare personnel, logistics, vaccine supply chains and transport systems.
Dave-Agboola also highlighted gaps in healthcare infrastructure, noting that some wards in Lagos still lack basic health facilities, limiting access to vaccination services.
She cited population pressure in areas such as Alimosho as a major challenge, with existing resources stretched by demand.
Officials said outreach programmes are being expanded to reach hard-to-access communities, including projects currently underway in parts of Kano State.
In all, it was unanimously agreed that this cannot be left to governments alone. There must be targeted engagement with major private sector organisations to support immunisation funding and interventions.
Some of the participants at the meeting.
The orientation of BOOST Project Advocates also brought about issue of encouraging greater participation by introducing special identification cards for volunteers to enable them access free healthcare services, thereby attracting more support and commitment to immunization works.
The BOOST Project has been quite impactful and from the look of things, there’s that commitment to empowering advocates in our various communities but there’s still room for improvements in order to achieve the set goals.