PREMIUM TIMES
The Nigerian government has significantly increased its budgetary allocation for immunisation programmes and services in the 2024 proposed budget.
A review of the 2024 budget, tagged ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’, shows that about N137 billion was allocated to immunisation programmes including counterpart funding, procurement of Routine Immunisation (RI) vaccines, devices, operational cost, and distribution among others.
This allocation marks about a 100 per cent increase from the N69 billion allocated to immunisation programmes in 2023.
Despite this encouraging initiative by the new administration, the funds earmarked for 2023 are yet to be released.
Unreleased funds
The CEO of Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), Chika Offor, while speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday said Nigeria is yet to release any substantial funds from the appropriated immunisation budget for the current year.
Ms Offor said the total amount that has been appropriated, cash-planned and not released is about N60 billion (over 80 per cent of the budgeted sum).
She noted that if these funds are not released by 31 December, they can no longer be used for procurement of vaccines and devices.
“We urgently advocate to the Accountant General of the Federation for the swift release of the cash-planned N60 Billion immunisation funds,” she said.
“The timely release of these funds is paramount to sustaining the momentum in our nation’s immunisation efforts, which directly impact the health and well-being of our citizens.”
The immunisation budget, a crucial component of the overall health expenditure, is designed to ensure the availability of vaccines, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and support comprehensive vaccination campaigns across the country.
Consequences
Ms Offor said failure to release funds for immunisation purposes has left Nigeria vulnerable to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, and polio.
“Currently, there is an epidemic of vaccine…
