LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has announced that routine immunization programmes reached over one million children in 2025, marking significant progress in child health protection amid insecurity concerns threatening outreach efforts across the state.
Speaking at the State Taskforce on Immunization meeting in Ilorin, the agency’s Executive Secretary, Nusirat Elelu, attributed the achievement to sustained routine vaccination efforts alongside targeted campaigns such as the polio outbreak response conducted across all 16 local government areas.
“Kwara State has made significant strides in routine immunization, as over one million children were vaccinated in 2025. In the Polio outbreak response, over a million children were also covered across the 16 LGAs,” she said.
Notably, Moro Local Government Area recorded the highest coverage at 91 percent, with vaccination teams successfully reaching every ward despite difficult conditions.
However, Elelu raised fresh concerns about the impact of insecurity on health interventions. In some communities, including Kiama Local Government Area, supplemental immunization had to be deployed to boost children’s immunity levels quickly.
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“Due to insecurity in some communities, including Kiama LGA, supplemental immunization activities had to be carried out to quickly improve the immunity of children. The insecurity compromised some communities, with two confirmed cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 recorded in December 2025,” she explained.
Meanwhile, funding gaps at the local government level have emerged as another obstacle. Elelu warned that delays in releasing counterpart funds are hindering healthcare delivery.
“The non-release of LGA counterpart funds in some areas is affecting our operations. We urge local government leadership to provide more support for primary healthcare activities,” she said.
In response, the state government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding both residents and frontline health workers to ensure uninterrupted vaccination campaigns. Looking ahead, she revealed that the next phase of intervention, the National Immunization Plus Days targeting infants aged zero to nine months will commence soon, reinforcing efforts to close immunity gaps.
“The state government will continue to ensure that adequate security architecture is deployed to protect communities and healthcare workers for full immunization coverage,” Elelu added.
Reacting to the report, Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, praised the agency’s performance but criticized some local authorities for inadequate participation.
“We commend the agency for its efforts in improving immunization and primary healthcare delivery. However, it is disappointing that some local government chairmen are not showing enough interest in primary healthcare activities in their domains,” he said, warning that negligence would not be tolerated.
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Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, emphasized the life-saving role of vaccines while calling for stronger public engagement to address hesitancy.
“Progress is being made in protecting children through immunization, but more needs to be done to ensure no child is left behind,” she noted.
Adding legislative backing, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health and Nutrition, Seun Ogunniyi, reaffirmed continued support for immunization programmes, describing primary healthcare as the backbone of the state’s health system.
Ultimately, the developments highlights both the gains and gaps in Kwara’s immunization drive, with authorities now under pressure to sustain momentum, address insecurity, and secure funding needed to protect every child from preventable diseases.
