Olusegun Adeyemo
The Executive Secretary of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) Campaign, Dr. Mudeen Olatunji, has stated that any parent who delays their child’s immunization is violating the law, as they are denying the child a fundamental right.
Dr. Olatunji made this known during the official flag-off ceremony for the second round of the 2025 NIPDs campaign, held at Molete Primary Health Care Centre in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Represented by the Director of Health Planning and Statistics, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Sunday Adewale, Dr. Olatunji explained that immunization is recognized by law as a basic right of every child.
“Immunization is a national issue backed by the Child Rights Act passed by the National Assembly. Each state has been required to domesticate the law. Some states did so last year, others this year. Oyo State is among those that have already domesticated the law,” he said.
He lamented that some parents still give unfounded reasons for refusing to immunize their children, thereby undermining government efforts to safeguard children’s health and lives.
Dr. Olatunji emphasized that the immunization campaign targets six vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Nigeria is among the countries with high child mortality and illness rates from diseases that are preventable. That is the painful reality,” he stated.
He added that the government provides vaccines free of charge to ensure that children survive beyond the age of five, as children who reach that age are generally considered to have overcome the most vulnerable stage of early childhood illness.
In his opening remarks, the Medical Officer of Health for Ibadan South-West, Dr. Sunday Mustapha, expressed gratitude to the community for their continued support in ensuring that all children are vaccinated. He also appealed to residents to ensure that no child is left behind in the ongoing effort to eliminate childhood paralysis.
The Journal Nigeria reports that other key stakeholders present at the event included Dr. Zorto Philip, representative of the WHO State Coordinator; Dr. Ajayi Paul, Oyo State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA); Alasan Babatunde; and Dr. Asnakeh Tsega, Health Manager and Polio Team Lead at the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office.