As conflict escalates in north-east Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund has said called on stakeholders to protect children and essential services targeted at them in the region. This, according to the organization, will prevent children from dying of opportunistic infections and better quality of life.
Phuong T. Nguyen, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Maiduguri, Borno State made this remark on Wednesday in a statement made available to journalists. According to her, an upsurge in conflict in the region is leading to forced displacement and will further expose children to malnutrition and inability to access routine immunization services.
“Immunization is the foundation to children’s health, and if children are immunized, they will do well in school and develop immunity against opportunistic diseases. We must protect our children now so that they can protect us in our old age. Already the COVID-19 pandemic is shrinking access to routine health services. The escalating conflict in the north-east will erase the windows of opportunities that are still available.’’
“Data from the World Health Organisation shows that as a result of access constraints, 14 million infants did not receive their first dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in 2019. Another 5.7 million infants were only partially immunized. It is sad that 60 per cent of these 19.7 million children live in 10 countries, including Nigeria,’’ she said.
Nguyen who added that immunization prevents up to four million deaths annually, noted that many children living in conflict-affected regions continue to miss out on life-saving immunization services.
“The benefits of immunization on children last for life. That is why immunization services for children and adults must be protected at all cost. Early this year, UNICEF supported efforts of the Borno State Government with the immunization of 469,910 persons aged 9 months to 44 years against yellow fever in high burden local government areas of the state where six cases were reported. UNICEF has facilitated the immunization of children against other vaccine-preventable diseases in the region and will continue to prioritise and advocate uninterrupted immunization services for children affected by conflict,’’ she said.
