Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. It is one of the most cost-effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. It has clearly defined target groups; it can be delivered effectively through outreach activities; and vaccination does not require any major lifestyle change.
Retrieved on March 16.2013 from http://www.who.int/topics/immunization/en/
Shots may hurt a little... but the
diseases they can prevent can hurt a lot more! Immunization shots, or
vaccinations, are essential. They protect against things like measles,
mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
(whooping cough). Immunizations are important for adults as well as for children. Here's why.
Your immune system helps your body fight germs by producing substances to combat them. Once it does, the immune system "remembers" the germ and can fight it again. Vaccines contain germs that have been killed or weakened. When given to a healthy person, the vaccine triggers the immune system to respond and thus build immunity.
Before vaccines, people became immune only by actually getting a disease and surviving it. Immunizations are an easier and less risky way to become immune.
A formerly strong primary health care system in northern Nigeria has weakened over many years. Polio outbreaks, rumors on the safety of the polio vaccine, and subsequent campaigns disrupted routine immunization services. Routine immunization services are either no longer available or irregular; limited resources for health services and gaps in vaccine storage and distribution add to the challenge of increasing immunization coverage.
As an associate partner in the Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunization in Northern Nigeria (PRRINN), PATH is working with Health Partners International, GRID Consulting, Save the Children UK, Johns Hopkins University, and government authorities in northern Nigeria to strengthen primary health care services and subsequently reach children across the region with safe and effective vaccines.
The partnership is working in four states in northern Nigeria—Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, and Zamfara—that have some of the lowest levels of immunization coverage. PATH is providing technical assistance to the partnership in these areas:
Your immune system helps your body fight germs by producing substances to combat them. Once it does, the immune system "remembers" the germ and can fight it again. Vaccines contain germs that have been killed or weakened. When given to a healthy person, the vaccine triggers the immune system to respond and thus build immunity.
Before vaccines, people became immune only by actually getting a disease and surviving it. Immunizations are an easier and less risky way to become immune.
Retrieved on March 16,2013 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunization.html
Making immunization routine again
 In parts of northern Nigeria, barely 10 percent of children receive all of their standard vaccines. PATH and partners are working to restore routine immunization where it is needed most. |
Strengthening immunization programs in northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of immunization coverage in the world. In many parts of the north, barely 10 percent of children receive all of their routine vaccines. Coverage rates for the vaccine against tetanus among women are equally low. Why?A formerly strong primary health care system in northern Nigeria has weakened over many years. Polio outbreaks, rumors on the safety of the polio vaccine, and subsequent campaigns disrupted routine immunization services. Routine immunization services are either no longer available or irregular; limited resources for health services and gaps in vaccine storage and distribution add to the challenge of increasing immunization coverage.
As an associate partner in the Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunization in Northern Nigeria (PRRINN), PATH is working with Health Partners International, GRID Consulting, Save the Children UK, Johns Hopkins University, and government authorities in northern Nigeria to strengthen primary health care services and subsequently reach children across the region with safe and effective vaccines.
The partnership is working in four states in northern Nigeria—Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, and Zamfara—that have some of the lowest levels of immunization coverage. PATH is providing technical assistance to the partnership in these areas:
- Strengthening vaccine storage, vaccine delivery, and waste management.
- Building health workers’ skills in vaccine management.
- Improving systems for delivering supplies to health centers and communities.
- Improving access to immunization for all populations in the region, including difficult-to-reach families living in remote areas.
Retrieved on March16, 2013 from http://www.path.org/projects/immunization-nigeria.php
My Views/thoughts
I chose this topic because I think it is a vital and critical public health topic that aids in the growth and development of young children. Children need to be fully immunized so as to eliminate various diseases that will impede their growth. In being fully immunized children has the potential to develop healthy.
The whole matter of immunization helps educators as well as caregivers to better cater for the needs of children on a daily basis as they will be able to know what health condition the children may / may not be suffering from; they are able to know that the child/children are fully fit and healthy. It was very surprising to have learned so much about the process of immunization in the country of Nigeria. I am very happy to know that the PATH program as stepped in to assist this country. This program is a very good program here also in my country of Jamaica.
Your Child's Guidelines for Raising Responsible, Productive, Happy Children by Dorothy Corkille Briggs