Abuja: The Federal Government has urged traditional rulers to enhance efforts against vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and non-compliance to aid the vaccination of unprotected children and eradicate circulating poliovirus in Nigerian communities. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasized this call during the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee Quarterly Review Meeting on Primary Healthcare held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting was organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to bolster immunisation and healthcare outcomes across the nation. Prof. Pate highlighted the crucial role of traditional institutions in improving health outcomes due to the trust and influence they command within communities.
The minister praised the enduring partnership with traditional leaders, acknowledging that sustainable health outcomes are not solely reliant on government policies but also on trusted community engagement and leadership. He urged traditional rulers to encourage health service demand, community mobilization, and address hesitancy and misinformation.
Despite Nigeria’s progress in maintaining its wild polio-free status and enhancing primary healthcare indicators, Prof. Pate pointed out existing gaps in routine immunisation, antenatal care, and skilled birth attendance. He stressed the need for state and local governments to complement federal efforts through adequate funding and robust health systems to improve primary healthcare services.
Prof. Pate called for focused efforts from traditional leaders in communities exhibiting persistent vaccine refusal and low immunisation coverage, noting the urgent need to address circulating variant poliovirus type three. He also mentioned Nigeria’s success in securing a $500 million commitment from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for 2026 to 2030, which includes $345 million earmarked for vaccine financing.
Dr. Muyi Aina, Chief Executive Officer of NPHCDA, shared findings from recent surveys indicating modest improvements in routine immunisation coverage, with disparities still prevalent among states. He noted a marginal increase in national Pentavalent-3 vaccine coverage and a significant rise in Inactivated Polio Vaccine coverage, yet highlighted that nearly half of Nigerian children remain unprotected against polio.
Dr. Aina reported 30 cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type two and seven cases of type three, primarily detected in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto. He emphasized that the barriers to immunisation are increasingly social and behavioural, urging traditional leaders to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure every eligible child receives protection.
Representing the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Samaila Mera, Emir of Argungu and Chairman of the NTLC, stressed the importance of prioritizing immunisation and basic healthcare access. Dr. Parvel Ursu, WHO Country Representative, and Wafaa Saeed-Abdelatef, UNICEF Country Representative, both highlighted the vital role of traditional rulers in bridging health services and communities, building trust, and ensuring no child is left behind in vaccination efforts.
Representatives from the Gates Foundation and Rotary International also encouraged traditional institutions to enhance community engagement, counter misinformation, and support nationwide efforts to close immunity gaps.