00:00immunization is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect children from deadly diseases
00:07yet in 2025 nigeria remains the country with the highest number of zero-dose children
00:14in africa more than 2.2 million boys and girls who have never received a single vaccine
00:22nigeria's story with immunization has been full of highs and lows the expanded program
00:28on immunization epi launched in 1978 once brought coverage to more than 81 in the early 90s but that
00:38success did not last by 2003 coverage had fallen to just 12.9 among the lowest in the world the impact
00:48of that decline is still with us a national immunization survey 2016 coverage showed that
00:5677 percent of nigerian children between 12 and 23 months had not received all their vaccines
01:04and 40 had received none at all the survey also revealed huge inequalities children of educated
01:13mothers or from wealthier homes were up to six times more likely to be vaccinated than children
01:21from poorer families today while progress has been made in some states wide gaps remain a certain
01:29regions fewer than one in ten children are fully vaccinated and the consequences are devastating
01:38nigeria continues to battle outbreaks of preventable diseases like diphtheria which have already claimed
01:46over 1200 lives in 2025 most of them children who were unvaccinated but there is hope the government
01:56through national primary healthcare development agency alongside global partners like who unicef and gavi
02:05is working to close the gaps strategic plans now target high burden states and new initiatives such as cash
02:14incentives for parents are helping to bring more children into the immunization net vaccines save lives
02:22they are safe effective and one of the best investment any country can make for its children but vaccines
02:31only work when children receive them as we mark national immunization awareness 2025 the message is clear no
02:41child should be left behind take your child to the nearest health center today for routine immunization
02:49protect your child protect your family protect our future immunization not just a choice it is a lifeline
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