The World Health Organisation, on Sunday, said Nigeria ranks first in the top 20 zero-dose countries list of 2022, with over 2.3 million estimated zero-dose children, about 16 per cent of the global total.
This is according to the 2023 results report showcasing the achievement of key public health milestones, even amid greater global humanitarian health needs driven by conflict, climate change, and disease outbreaks.
The report is released ahead of the 2024 77th World Health Assembly, which runs from May 27 to June 1, 2024.
Zero-dose children are defined as those who lack access to or are never reached by routine immunisation services. They are operationally measured as those who did not receive their first dose of DTP, a vaccine containing diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis.
The report said, “Nigeria ranks first in the top 20 zero-dose countries list of 2022, with over 2.3 million estimated zero-dose children, about 16 per cent of the global total.
“The country also has the largest number of zero-dose children impacted by conflict. The government of Nigeria has, rightly, prioritised reaching communities with a high burden of zero-dose children in its National Strategy for Immunisation and Primary Health Care System Strengthening.
“The goal is to reduce the number of affected children by at least 80% by the end of 2028.”
