The Ogun State Government has set an ambitious target to vaccinate over two million children as it flagged off the second round of the 2025 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) and the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week.
Speaking at the official launch of the campaign in Sabo, Sagamu Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, urged parents and caregivers to seize the opportunity and protect their children against preventable diseases, especially polio and cervical cancer.
Dr. Coker disclosed that the exercise aims to administer oral polio vaccines to under-five children and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to girls aged nine. The HPV vaccine is a key preventive measure against cervical cancer. In addition, pregnant women across the state’s 236 wards will receive multiple micronutrient supplements.
“Ogun State successfully implemented the first round of the NIPDs, reaching 2,012,546 children with the oral polio vaccine, achieving a 99.1 percent coverage,” she said.
While noting that Nigeria had not recorded any case of wild poliovirus since 2016, the commissioner warned against complacency, citing the resurgence of the Circulating Variant Poliovirus in parts of the country.
“We are not yet out of the woods. To maintain the country’s polio-free status, more than 280 million doses of vaccines must be administered annually,” Dr. Coker stated.
She reaffirmed the Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, with a focus on maternal and child health in both rural and urban areas.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Ogbeni Afolabi Odulate—represented by his vice, Alhaji Isiaka Salami—said the NIPDs was a nationwide effort to reinforce routine immunisation and ensure that no child is left behind.
The Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, emphasized the importance of parental support, particularly for HPV vaccination, describing the vaccine as “safe, effective and free.”
Representatives of international development partners, including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commended the state’s sustained effort in maintaining a polio-free status for the past five years.
They pledged continued collaboration to support immunisation and healthcare delivery across the state.
In a royal endorsement, the Ologijo of Ogijo, Oba Kazeem Gbadamosi, also urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated, calling it a crucial step toward preventing disease and securing a healthier future for the state.
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