As part of the activities to commemorate the 2025 World Immunisation Week (WIW), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu Field Office, in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, has organised a two-day virtual Multi-Zonal Media Dialogue for journalists and stakeholders to boost vaccines uptake and immunisation in the country.
The media dialogue, moderated by Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, Communications Officer, UNICEF, Enugu, held between Thursday and Friday with scores of journalists, health practitioners and other relevant stakeholders across 12 states in attendance virtually.
The 12 states within the Enugu Field Office area of responsibility (AoR) captured in the programme with the theme: ‘Immunization for All is Humanly Possible’, are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross river, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Delta, Imo and Kogi. In her presentation, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of Field Office UNICEF, Enugu, said the dialogue would foster discourse that would help promote and provide quality immunisation services to everyone, especially the children.
Chiluwe said: ‘Today kick-starts the WIW commemoration across the world and UNICEF joins efforts with health care providers and governments to promote the values of immunisation services as should, which entails getting to the last mile.
“UNICEF uses this opportunity to emphasise that vaccines are proof that less disease, more life is possible when we put our minds to it. It’s time to show the world that ‘Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible’.
“Vaccines remain one of humanity’s greatest achievements and over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives. That’s six lives a minute, every day, for five decades.
“In 2025, as we approach WIW 2025, themed, “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible”, it’s essential to underscore the continued relevance of this global observance. The theme reaffirms the feasibility and necessity of protecting everyone, from newborns to the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases, through inclusive and equitable immunisation services.
“In all these years UNICEF, in partnership with the media as a reliable ally and other development partners, continued to provide strategic and operational support in the following areas: Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilisation (ACSM); Logistics and Cold Chain Support: Infrastructure —strengthening such as establishment of oxygen gas plants to strengthen health systems in states and routine immunisation support.”
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She commended the contributions from state governments that compliment UNICEF’s efforts in these areas and urge that they do not relent in this partnership but build momentum on progress made so far by continuing to provide budgetary allocations to ensure we get to the last mile where every eligible child gets lifesaving vaccines to survive and reach their full potential.
In his address, the Director General, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA), Mr. Francis Nwubani, said UNICEF had been at the vanguard of advocating for the welfare of women and children and BCA had over the years appreciated partnering with UNICEF to achieve great results.
Nwubani said the WIW that is celebrated in the last week of April, aims to promote the life-saving power of immunisation to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases.
He restated that vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements, noting that since 1974, vaccines have saved over 154 million lives – that’s more than 3 million lives a year or six people every minute for five decades.
Nwubani stated: “In the same period, vaccination has reduced infant deaths by 40%, and more children now live to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history. Statistics reveal that measles vaccines alone accounts for 60% of those lives saved.
“More lives are now being saved, among people of all ages, with more recent vaccines against malaria, Human Papillomavirus, cholera, meningitis, RSV, Ebola and mpox, reflecting an era of massive scientific advancements in vaccine development and delivery.
“Every new child born deserves the benefit of these vaccines, yet millions still miss out each year. To ensure that the immunisation successes of the past 50 years are built on in the coming decades, this year’s theme, “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible” aims to continue the “Humanly Possible” campaign with a future forward look on the importance of ensuring more people, especially children, are vaccinated.
“As 2025 is the mid-point in the Immunisation Agenda 2030, World Immunisation Week will look at not only what immunisation does to improve lives today but what immunisation can achieve in the coming decades as more children are reached with essential immunisations and new and newer vaccines are developed to cover a broader range of diseases and ages.”