The Federal Government will officially launch a nationwide integrated campaign aimed at scaling up protection against vaccine-preventable and neglected tropical diseases.
The campaign will raise awareness on measles, rubella, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and polio, while also strengthening routine immunization and tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the event—hosted by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate—is being organised by the Federal Ministry of Health through the NPHCDA.
He said the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (CON), will serve as Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony.
Aina explained that the campaign is expected to reach millions of children and adolescents across the country with life-saving vaccines. It will also expand access to interventions for NTDs such as river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminths.
He noted that integrating these interventions would reduce duplication of efforts, optimize resources, and expand coverage, particularly in underserved rural and hard-to-reach communities.
“The integrated approach reflects government’s 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,” Aina said.
He added that the introduction of the HPV vaccine on a national scale is a major 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, as well as boost measles and rubella elimination goals,” he added.
Aina stressed that all vaccines being administered are safe, effective, and free of charge. He urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children are immunized at designated centres nationwide.
“The exercise will also serve as a reminder of the importance of routine immunization, which remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions worldwide,” he said.
Nigeria, however, continues to face challenges such as low immunization uptake in some regions, vaccine misinformation, and barriers to access.
The integrated campaign is therefore seen as a major opportunity to close gaps, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen public confidence in the health system.
