9 hours Ago By Amarachukwu Egwu-Agha
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said vaccine is one of the greatest achievement in humanity. This was as the Chief of field office, UNICEF Enugu, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, emphasized that essential vaccines have saved not less than 154 million lives in five decades. Mrs.
Chiluwe disclosed this during a media dialogue on 2025 immunization week in Enugu. The event with the theme: “Immunization for All is Possible” was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with BCA Umuahia and had participants drawn from 12 states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Delta, Imo and Kogi. The Chief field officer UNICEF, Enugu in her remark encouraged the media to help promote the values of immunization to humanity, calling on government to enhance it political will in sponsoring immunization.
She said,”On behalf of UNICEF, I am happy to be here today , on this auspicious occasion of the fostering dialogue that will help promote and provide quality immunization services to everyone, especially the children we serve. “Today kick-starts the world immunization week,(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. “UNICEF uses this opportunity to emphasize that Vaccines are proof that less disease, more life is possible when we put our minds to it.
It’s time to show the world that ‘Immunization for All is Humanly Possible. Vaccine remain one of the humanity’s greatest achievement and over the last 50 years, essential vaccine have saved at least 154 million lives, that’s 6 lives a minute everyday for five decades. “In 2025,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 inclusive and equitable immunization services. “Finally, we commend the contributions form state governments that compliments UNICEF’s efforts in these areas and urge that they do not relent in this partnership but build momentum on progress made so far by continuing to provide budgetary allocations to ensure we get to the last mile where every eligible child gets lifesaving vaccines to survive and reach their full potentials”. In her presentation, Dr.
Ifenyinwa Anyanyo, Health Specialist, UNICEF field office, Enugu, noted that the challenges to accessing immunization include, geographical isolation and poor network. Also, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, Health Specialists, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu in his presentation said since the COVID-19 pandemic, in many communities measles cases reached an estimated 10.
3 million in 2023, a 20 per cent increase compared to 2022..
