United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)Thursday, declared open the World Immunization Week program with the Theme, ” Immunization for All is humanly possible “, calling on the government at all levels to strengthen healthcare services and enlighten members of the public on the importance of immunization and vaccination.
Chief of Field Office , UNICEF ,Enugu, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe ,made the call at the Two- Day Multi Zonal Media Dialogue on 2025 World Immunization Week (WIM) in 12 States of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra,Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Delta, Imo, and Kogi, held in Enugu.
In her address at the event, Chiluwe said the Dialogue will help promote and provide quality immunization services to everyone, especially the children.
Pix- UNICEF team and some physical participants
“Today kick-starts the WIW commemoration across the world and UNICEF joins efforts with health care providers and governments to promote the values of immunization services as should, which entails getting to the last mile”, she said.
Speaking on the importance of immunization, the Chief of Field Office, said, “vaccines are proof that less disease, save life when we put our minds to it”.
Her words,” It’s time to show the world that Immunization for All is Humanly Possible. Vaccines remain one of humanity’s greatest achievements and over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives. That’s 6 lives a minute, every day, for five decades.
“As we approach World Immunization Week (WIW) 2025, themed, “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible ,it’s essential to underscore the continued relevance of this global observance.
“The theme reaffirms the feasibility and necessity of protecting everyone, from newborns to the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases, through and equitable immunization services,” she said.
On UNICEF’s efforts so far in preventing diseases, Chiluwe said, “in all these years UNICEF, in partnership with the media as a reliable ally and other development partners, continued to provide strategic and operational support in the following areas:
Pix: Chiluwe, UNICEF, Chief of Field Office, Enugu
advocacy, communication, and social mobilization (ACSM) ;Logistics and cold chain support: Infrastructure strengthening such as establishment of oxygen gas plants to strengthen health system in states and Routine Immunization Support.
She commended the state governments for their contribution that compliments UNICEF’s efforts and builds momentum on progress made so far by continuing to provide budgetary allocations to ensure they get to the last mile where every eligible child gets lifesaving vaccines to survive and reach their full potentials.
UNICEF Chief of Field office,Enugu also thanked the media for their partnership which had helped to enlightening the members of the public on the need for immunization. She called on media practitioners to revisit their roles for the needy, the voiceless, the children and under-aged youths to help promote immunization and good health.
Presentations were made on “Immunization for All is humanly possible, Accessibility”, by Health specialists, UNICEF, Enugu, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, Dr Olusoji Akinleye,and Sam Osum from Anambra state.
There were contributions, questions and answers from participants, both those online and those physically present
They noted that since 1974, vaccination saved 154 million lives-that’s 3 million lives a year or 6 people every minute for five decades. In the same period, vaccination has reduced infant deaths by 40%, and more children now live to see their first birthday and beyond, than at anytime in human history.
They said measles vaccine alone accounts for 60% of those lives saved. “Vaccines protect more than 30 life-threatening diseases, lives are now being saved, among people of all ages, with more recent vaccines against malaria, IPV,, meningitis, RSV, Ebola and mpox, reflecting an era of massive scientific advancements in elopment and delivery. watershed moment in the history of global health. Hard-won gains in stamping out diseases that are through vaccination are in jeopardy. Decades of collaborative efforts between governments, aid scientists, healthcare workers, and parents got us to where we are today a world where we’ve smallpox and almost eradicated polio”, Resource persons said.
They warned against global outbreak of measles and called on the government to strengthen the health care services. The Resource persons highlighted some challenges health personnel encountered during immunization programs. They included insecurity, misinformation, inaccessibility of communities as a result of geographical locations, flooding, misconceptions, shrinking funding amongst others. They appealed to the government, their partners to intensify support on immunization and vaccination to prevent diseases and promote a healthy living.
They were of the view that ,”it is humanly possible to have less disease and more life, if people and their communities themselves and their loved ones got freed from vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization. They called on the Governments to turn vaccines into vaccinations through strong immunization programmes at all levels .
Earlier, the Communications Officer, UNICEF, Enugu, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe said the Immunization Week celebrated in the last week of April, aims to promote the life-saving power of immunization to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases. She described immunization as one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
According to her, this year’s theme,”Immunization for All is Humanly Possible”, aims to continue the “Humanly Possible” campaign with a future ; the importance of ensuring more people, especially children are vaccinated to reduce child- killer diseases, other contagious diseases and have a healthy people in a healthy society.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama