Nigeria receives 1.5m doses of Pentavalent Vaccines from Indonesia
Omolola Ajobiewe
In a bid to further strengthen the bi-lateral relations between the two countries, the Indonesia Government has donated a total of 1,580,000 doses of Pentavalent Vaccines to the Government of Nigeria.
The Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib at the handover on Friday, said the Pentavalent vaccine is a critical tool for protecting children against five major childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
He expressed his appreciation for the positive impact of the partnership that exists between Nigeria and Indonesia, that the vaccines are more than just vials of medicine; that they represent hope, protection, and the promise of a brighter future for children.
Dr. Shuaib, also said that the donated vaccines are a proof to the power of collective action, compassion, and international cooperation. And it reaffirms the obligation to protect the health and well-being of Nigerian children.
He said, “The donated vaccines will be distributed to healthcare centres throughout Nigeria to ensure that they reach as many children as possible, particularly those in remote and underserved communities, where they will be instrumental in preventing countless cases of debilitating and life-threatening diseases among the most vulnerable members of our society.
“We will be guided by three fundamental principles: accessibility, equity, and efficiency. We firmly believe that every child, regardless of their background or geographic location, should have equitable access to these life-saving vaccines.
“We will leave no child behind. Furthermore, we will emphasize the importance of vaccine education and dispel any misconceptions or hesitancy surrounding immunization. Through transparent communication and community engagement, we aim to build trust and confidence in the safety and efficacy of these vaccines.”
The Indonesia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Usra Harahap, while presenting the vaccines said one of the most significant developments in the public health is the Pentavalent Vaccines which are made up of five significant vaccines that help combat diseases such as Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b.
According to him, “It gives me great pleasure to stand before you today as we mark the donations of Pentavalent Vaccines from Indonesia to Nigeria. This symbolizes the strong bond between our countries and our self-commitment to fostering the health and well-being of all our citizens. I want to use this opportunity to show our sincere appreciation to Nigeria for accepting this and for your unwavering commitment to the well-being of your citizens.
“We can address issues with the global health and create a better future for everyone by working together and standing together. The Pentavalent Vaccines are produced by Indonesian manufacturer – Bio Pharma and we delivered a total of 1,580,000 doses to Nigeria through the Indonesian Aid Agency. All these donations are to improve the health care system and increase immunization covers for every child in Nigeria to grow up safe and healthy.”
In his goodwill message, the World Health Organization (WHO) country representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo, said the contribution would go a long way to accelerate Nigeria’s efforts in closing the gap of zero dose.
“It’s very important for us especially, the UN agencies to ensure that we fully support the avenue of south-south collaboration. We hope beyond this gesture, there will be more collaboration to strengthen our capacity for local manufacture of vaccines in our respective countries,” he said.
“Indonesia is very special to W.H.O. because that is where we are manufacturing the Polio Vaccines. We are very proud of you. I wish to extend our appreciation to the national authority for this gesture; it is really a good thing.”
