Nigeria is facing a critical public health challenge with over two million children currently unimmunized against preventable diseases, according to Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf.
Speaking at a training workshop for health managers in Kano, Dr. Labaran highlighted that insecurity and systemic healthcare challenges are major factors contributing to this alarming immunization gap.
"In Nigeria we discovered that more than two million children are un-immunized and going by this figure you know what it means, that over 60% or 70% of this un-immunized children will be in the northern part of the country," Dr. Labaran stated.
The commissioner further explained that northwestern states likely bear the heaviest burden due to ongoing security challenges in the region. "By so doing I am sure northwestern states will take the lion share due to insecurity in the area, and also Kano received these in-secured people now with this you may say that significant number of these un-immunized may be in Kano," he added.
Strategic Healthcare Initiatives
The workshop was organized under the Nigeria Healthcare Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), a collaborative initiative implemented by the Kano State Ministry of Health in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), and the Nigerian Governors' Forum.
According to Dr. Labaran, the training session was specifically designed to enhance the capacity of monitoring and evaluation officers in the state's health sector.
"This workshop is aimed at building a rational, realistic, and pragmatic strategy that will guide health budgeting and implementation for the people of Kano State," he noted.
The commissioner also highlighted efforts by the Kano State Government over the past two years to address immunization gaps through strategic coordination among health stakeholders.
Health experts have long emphasized that childhood immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing an estimated 2-3 million deaths annually worldwide. The current gap in Nigeria poses significant risks to child health outcomes and could potentially lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Labaran urged workshop participants to fully engage with the training content, noting that the knowledge gained could significantly improve healthcare delivery and outcomes across the state.
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