Vaccines Have Reduced Infant Mortality By 40% – Commissioner

The Plateau State commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicolas Ba’amlong, has stated that immunisation vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million lives over the past 50 years, reducing infant mortality by 40 per cent and protecting people from more than 30 deadly diseases .

Dr. Ba’amlong stated this while monitoring the 2025 routine immunisation exercise in some parts of the state, which is aimed at eradicating polio and other deadly diseases.

According to him, the Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Care Board are working closely with partners to identify and reach zero-dose children, integrate immunisation into primary health care and build stronger, more resilient health systems.

Meanwhile, Jos North local government area of the state is said to have recorded more than 70 per cent compliance in the ongoing National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDS) campaign for the month of April.

Hitherto, the LGA have a high prevalence ratio of polio due to non-compliance.

Our correspondent, who monitored the ongoing routine immunisation exercise in some Primary healthcare centres in Jos North LGA, observed that the turnout was encouraging, but experts lamented shortages of manpower and  consumables.

LEADERSHIP also observed that some men came to the clinic with their wives to support them during the immunisation exercise.

Nimnan Zingzhi, Jos North local government immunisation officer confirmed to newsmen that

the percentage coverage is high because the local government has the highest number of teams.

“We have 298 teams deployed across the 20 wards of the local government. So far, from the review meeting we had, we have achieved more than 70% coverage. That is a great improvement, as people are complying well.”

Speaking on addressing shortage of manpower and consumables,  Zingzhi, disclosed that as immunization officer, “it is our responsibility to notice any shortages and report them to higher authorities.”

According to him, for the shortage of consumables, “we will do our best to liaise with the council chairman and ensure that those consumables are provided whenever there is a shortage.

“Regarding manpower, as we all know, there is a general shortage of manpower in the local government area. In facilities like this, those employed by the government are very few.”

According to him,  they have volunteer graduates from Colleges of Health, Nursing, and other institutions who have not yet been employed.