Health
CSO, stakeholders urge timely release of immunisation funding
The Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), a civil society organisation, has called on all tiers of government to prioritise the timely release of funds for immunisation.
It said doing so is crucial to safeguarding child health and preventing disease outbreaks across Nigeria.
Speaking at a media conference in Abuja on Tuesday, themed “If You Have to Make a Choice, Choose Immunisation! Making a Case for Immunisation,” Mrs Chika Offor, Chief Executive Officer of VNDC, addressed the importance of immunisation.
She described it as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, capable of reducing child mortality, preventing disease outbreaks, and promoting a healthier society.
According to her, immunisation reduces child mortality, prevents disease outbreaks, and contributes to a healthier and more productive society.
Offor expressed concern over delayed funding, which she said exposed millions of children to vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria and meningitis and creates a risk of vaccine stockouts.
“More than one million children under five remain at risk of dying from diseases that routine immunisation could prevent,” she said.
She called for the immediate release of the N108 billion outstanding for 2024 and full disbursement of the N231.7 billion allocated for immunisation in the 2025 budget.
“We understand the constraints of the fiscal space, but if a choice must be made, please choose immunisation,” she urged.
Offor also called on state governments to adopt sustainable frameworks for routine and emergency immunisation financing, while ensuring efficient utilisation of allocated funds.
“Policymakers must also ensure that the national policy environment supports timely allocation and release of immunisation resources,” she added.
Also speaking, Mr Muhammed Usman, former Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, said the non-release of appropriated funds reflected a lack of prioritisation of immunisation.
“It is not enough to make budgetary provisions without prompt releases. This discourages parliamentarians from allocating more funds in future cycles,” he warned.
Usman added that failure to release funds appropriated for 2024 and 2025 could undermine confidence in the budgeting process and weaken legislative support for health financing.
On his part, Prof. Emmanuel Alhassan, Country Coordinator of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), stressed the economic value of vaccines.
“Every one dollar invested in immunisation generates a forty-four dollar return.
“The cost of not immunising is enormous. Human capital is our most valuable resource, and protecting it starts with immunisation.”
Alhassan joined other stakeholders in calling on the government to prioritise immunisation financing to secure the health and future of Nigerian children. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Health
Experts call for pharma sector harmonisation
Health sector experts have called for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria to eliminate duplication, enhance efficiency, and improve access to quality medicines and health products.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on aligning efforts under the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the engagement was timely, considering the number of ongoing but uncoordinated interventions in the sector.
“Harmonisation will lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
“It requires collaboration and a focus on strengthening national systems.”
He described Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system as “robust and huge” but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, said such collaboration was “common sense” given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources.
“Market shaping is a critical tool.
“Harmonisation can help us identify clear gaps we need to fill, especially in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Dr Anthony Ayeke, Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector.
“Harmonisation can accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience,” he noted.
He also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
Represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, he emphasised the committee’s focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
“Let’s use this platform to strengthen partnerships and align interventions with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” he said.
Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), said fragmented interventions and redundant regulations had long stunted growth in the sector.
Represented by Prof. Philip Builders, Professor of Pharmaceutics at NIPRD he said: “Equitable access to quality medicine is the foundation of universal healthcare.
“The lack of access is not just a health issue; it’s about equity, national security, and economic survival.
“Harmonisation isn’t just about avoiding duplication; it’s about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.”
He urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands.
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.
NAN
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