By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Government has launched Africa’s largest integrated health campaign to deliver life-saving vaccines and treatments to more than 100 million Nigerian children, in what officials describe as a major step toward universal child immunization.
The campaign was formally inaugurated on Monday, October 6, 2025, in Abuja by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The nationwide exercise merges several health interventions — including vaccinations against measles, rubella, polio, HPV, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) — into one coordinated drive led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The First Lady urged parents and guardians to ensure that every eligible child is vaccinated, emphasizing that “a vaccine in a vial does not save a child; protection only becomes real when that vaccine is injected into the arm of a child.” She said the initiative underscores the administration’s resolve to give every Nigerian child a healthy start in life.
Health Minister, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the launch as one of the most ambitious public health efforts on the continent. He said the campaign reflects the government’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery, ensuring that “no child, no mother, and no community is left behind.”
According to Pate, primary healthcare utilization has risen from 10 million visits per quarter in 2023 to 47 million in the second quarter of 2025, a sign of growing public confidence in the system. He also highlighted progress in maternal care through programmes such as the Free Emergency Obstetric Care initiative and the Mothers and Babies Implementation (MaMi) Scheme.
Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, described the exercise as “the mother of all health campaigns,” designed to strengthen immunity, prevent disease outbreaks, and expand access to essential health services. He said the first phase will cover 19 northern states, the Federal Capital Territory, and Oyo State, while the second phase — targeting the southern states — will begin in January 2026.
Aina noted that Nigeria has recorded more than 10,700 measles cases and 76 deaths this year, mostly among unvaccinated children, warning that rubella infections in pregnant women could lead to serious birth defects. “This campaign is about protecting futures, building resilient communities, and giving every child a fair chance to live and thrive,” he added.
The campaign is supported by global partners including UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Officials say it marks a defining step toward achieving Health for All Nigerians an initiative that transcends politics and unites the country around a shared vision of a healthier population.
