Nigeria’s top health official has issued a renewed call for universal childhood immunisation, stressing that access to vaccines is a right every child should enjoy, regardless of their location or background.
Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said on Sunday that immunisation remains one of the safest and most cost-effective ways to protect children against preventable diseases.
“No child should face illness or death due to diseases we can prevent,” Aina told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “Immunisation is not negotiable. It is a basic human right.”
He urged parents and caregivers to visit the nearest health facility to ensure children receive all recommended vaccines, which are provided at no cost.
The NPHCDA, in partnership with state authorities and global health partners, is stepping up efforts to reach children in hard-to-access communities, especially those who have never received any vaccines. The campaign includes door-to-door visits, outreach in rural areas, and public awareness drives.
“Every child vaccinated is a life potentially saved. But this is more than health – it’s about equity and justice,” Aina said. “We must all become advocates, from religious and community leaders to the media and civil society.”
He also highlighted the role of routine immunisation in controlling diseases such as polio, measles, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis, and called on Nigerians to resist misinformation around vaccine safety.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the federal government has placed renewed emphasis on strengthening the primary healthcare system to expand immunisation coverage and reduce child mortality.
“We see and appreciate every family that welcomes vaccinators,” Aina added. “You’re not just protecting your children – you’re helping build a stronger and safer Nigeria for us all.”
