The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) has teamed up with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to enhance primary healthcare and boost child survival rates.
At a three-day workshop, LSPHCB Permanent Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa announced the development of a Five-Year Routine Immunization Roadmap (2026–2030).
The plan aims to close gaps in immunization coverage and ensure fair vaccine access throughout Lagos State.
He emphasised that immunisation was more than a public health intervention, describing it as a “social contract” and a shared responsibility to protect every child, regardless of background or geography, with life-saving vaccines.
While Lagos has made progress, he admitted that immunisation coverage remained uneven, particularly in riverine areas, informal urban settlements, and among mobile populations.
“Some local government areas still report coverage rates as low as 60 per cent, leaving many children exposed to preventable diseases,” he said.
Mustafa noted that beyond boosting vaccine coverage, the initiative also sought to strengthen the primary healthcare system to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He urged participants to see the moment as pivotal and take bold, coordinated action that could transform the future of immunisation in Lagos and serve as a model for other states in Nigeria and beyond.
Similarly, Dr Olusegun Emiju, Lagos State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), outlined the broader vision behind the roadmap.
Emiju stressed that the effort was not only about planning but about building a resilient, accountable, and inclusive system that could sustain progress.
He highlighted the importance of strong monitoring mechanisms, collaborative leadership, and strategic planning informed by reliable data.
Reflecting on recent experiences, including challenges faced during the rollout of the HPV vaccine in 2023, Emiju underscored the need for robust community engagement and consistent public trust to overcome vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
NAN
