The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to launch a nationwide integrated campaign aimed at scaling up protection against certain diseases. The campaign, which targets increased awareness and immunization against measles, rubella, human papillomavirus (HPV), and polio, also seeks to strengthen routine immunization and tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
According to Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the campaign is being organized by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in collaboration with the NPHCDA. The event, scheduled to be hosted by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, will have Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the Special Guest of Honour.
The campaign is expected to reach millions of children and adolescents across the country with life-saving vaccines, while also expanding access to interventions for NTDs such as river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminths. By integrating these interventions, the government aims to reduce duplication of efforts, optimize resources, and increase coverage, particularly in underserved rural and hard-to-reach communities.
The introduction of the HPV vaccine on a national scale is seen as a significant milestone in safeguarding adolescent girls against cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Nigerian women. The campaign will also strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to keep polio at bay, after being certified wild polio-free in 2020, and boost measles and rubella elimination goals.
Dr. Aina emphasized that all vaccines being administered are safe, effective, and free, urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children are immunized at designated centers across the country. The exercise will serve as a reminder of the importance of routine immunization, which remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions worldwide.
Nigeria continues to face challenges such as low immunization uptake in some regions, vaccine misinformation, and barriers to access. The integrated campaign is seen as a major opportunity to close gaps, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen confidence in the health system. With its launch, the government reinforces its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and reducing preventable illnesses that continue to place a heavy burden on Nigerian families and the health system.
