Dr Ado Mohammed, the Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, says the Federal? Government will? spend N1.6 billion on the MenAfriVac immunisation campaign.
Mohammed said this in Abuja on Wednesday during a stakeholders? conference on MenAfriVac, an anti-measles vaccine.
He said? that the money would be used to procure vaccination cards, vaccines, injection materials, waste disposal materials and procurement of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) kit.
“In 1996, Nigeria had 15,000 death cases from meningitis; in 1999, 25,000 cases while in 2011, 1,000 cases were recorded, proving the fact that epidemics of meningitis has reduced rapidly in the country.
“Thousands of people die of meningitis annually, hence the total target population for MenAfriVac in Nigeria is 80 million and the estimated annual vaccine to be made available is 17 million.”
“This time around, the Federal Government wants the disease to be totally eradicated in the country, especially the most vulnerable states, hence achieving less than 19 per cent of the target, '' he said.
Mohammed said that the vaccine would be given? to persons between 16 and 29 years old and would last for 10 years? unlike the 1996 conventional vaccine which was for three years.
He urged? stakeholders to use every effective means to sensitise the public on the need for immunisation, adding that the aim of the programme would be defeated if enough awareness was not created.
Mohammed also urged states to support the programme by procuring waste disposal materials and vaccine cards.
He urged them to also carry out social mobilisation activities to attract good results.