Gladness Gideon
In a powerful show of solidarity during the 2025 World Immunisation Week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Lagos State Government, led an advocacy walk on Tuesday to spotlight the alarming resurgence of polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in Lagos State.
Held under the theme “Humanly Possible: Saving Lives Through Immunisation,” the march brought together policymakers, traditional leaders, youth advocates, and development partners who walked from the Office of the First Lady in Alausa to the Ministry of Education in Ikeja, calling attention to the urgent need for routine immunisation.
Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, delivered a sobering message: “Right here in Lagos, we are detecting a resurgence of polio. Low immunisation coverage, poor sanitation, and malnutrition are keeping the door open for this deadly disease.” She underscored that while millions of polio cases have been prevented globally, progress is now threatened by complacency, misinformation, and limited access to routine vaccinations.
Despite the availability of vaccines, Lafoucriere noted that some communities still rely solely on occasional campaigns. “This is not sustainable. Routine immunisation must become the norm for every child born in Lagos,” she urged.
Echoing her sentiments, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, described immunisation as a fundamental right. She announced that from May 3 to May 6, Lagos will observe National Immunisation Plus Days, during which all children under five will receive oral polio vaccines free of charge.
“Vaccination teams will cover homes, schools, markets, and religious centres,” she stated, encouraging full cooperation from parents and guardians. “Vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving. We must fight misinformation with truth.”
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Deputy Governor’s wife, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, urged participants to become immunisation ambassadors. “Awareness is not enough. We must push this message to rural and underserved areas.”
Also speaking, WHO State Coordinator Dr. Chinenye Okafor warned that unvaccinated children in Nigeria risk making the country a net exporter of preventable diseases. Dr. Segun Emiju of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency called for stronger systems to close immunisation gaps.
From the Family Health Board to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, speakers reaffirmed commitment to universal vaccination access.
As Lagos battles its size and population density, stakeholders agreed on one thing: it will take more than vaccines to protect children—it will take unified, sustained action.