Nigeria’s health sector may run into crisis if urgent steps are not taken to address the problem of short supply of Tuberculosis vaccine. Speaking at an interactive session in Kaduna, Hadiza Balarabe, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (PHCDA) saidthe statehas in stock all the antidotes except Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis, which according to her, is in short supply in the country.

The interactive session with Journalists was hosted by Kaduna State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (KADMAM) andCommunity Health and Research Initiative (CHR) Nigeria, with support from the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), development partners and members of the civil society in commemoration of the 7^thAfrican Vaccination Week in Kaduna.

The African Vaccination Week is celebrated every April, and this year’s edition is being celebrated between 24 and30 April 2017.

This year’s celebration coincides with the 1^stanniversary of the Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa which resulted in the first-ever Addis Declaration on Immunization (ADI) signed by Ministers of Health or Heads of Delegation which includes 10 commitments and four calls to action and endorsed by head of states on 31^stJanuary 2017.

“Apart from that, Pentavalent vaccine, Hepatitis vaccines, Measlesvaccines, Pneumonia vaccines are available in Kaduna state,” Balarabe said.

She said the state has spent over N400 million in procurement of equipment. Already, there are 144 solar direct drive equipment procured by the state that are yet to be installed.

“The only delay we are having is the renovation of the 255 hospitals in Kaduna State.

“As soon as the renovation reaches advanced stage, all the equipments will be installed and it will improve on our vaccine security in the state,” she added.

The Executive Secretary also said some of the challenges of immunisation in the state include poor data capture, lack of enough awareness, inadequate advocacies and lack of sustainability of policies.

Represented by Dr. Iliyasu Neyu, Director PHCDA, Balarabe said the commemoration of the 7^thAfrican Vaccination Week with the theme, ‘Vaccines Protect Everyone, Get Vaccinated!’, was an opportunity to create awareness and sensitise the general public including policymakers, parents, and community members on the role they should play in ensuring children were immunised.

While speaking at the event, Gambo Danhajia, a journalist reporting for Freedom Radio, emphasised on the need for government to set up immunisation monitoring committee to ensure compliance of the programme.

“Government should also strengthen awareness campaign especially in schools and in rural areas. They should also reintroduce fumigation of environment as was done by previous administration, as part of preventive measure against disease such as malaria and sleeping sickness,” Danhajia said.

Emir of Zazzua Alhaji Shehu Idris, represented by the Cika Soron Zazzau, advised government to provide adequate training and monitoring of medical personnel administering the immunisation.

The Emir also advocated improved remuneration for both ad-hoc and regular medical personnel involved in the exercise.

Hauwa Umar, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry for Women Affairs and Co-chair of KADMAM, called for collaboration of traditional and religious leaders to support government to achieve successful immunisation in the state.

Earlier, Mustapha Jumare, co-chairman of KADMAM, in his welcome remarks,described routine immunisation as the most successful and cost-effective healthcare intervention calling on stakeholders to ensure that children were immunised towards a healthy society.