Immunisation: Lagos Rallies Council Chairmen, Religious Leaders for Wider Coverage

By Kayode Olopade 

The Lagos State Government has intensified its immunisation campaign by rallying council chairmen, religious leaders, and other critical stakeholders to ensure wider coverage across the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the State Task Force on Immunization and Primary Health Care Services on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who chairs the taskforce, said the initiative was designed to guarantee that every child in Lagos is vaccinated.

Hamzat commended the immunisation team for its achievements in recent years but stressed the need to reach more residents who were yet to access vaccines.

“We want our religious leaders to use their sermons to educate people about the potency of vaccines. We also expect our schools to play their role in ensuring students are duly vaccinated,” he said.

The deputy governor called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector, assuring that the state government would increase budgetary allocation to primary healthcare to boost service delivery.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the event was aimed at deepening sensitisation and strengthening healthcare delivery at the grassroots. He noted that any community with a weak primary healthcare system risks becoming a sickly one.

“The world has produced very effective vaccines that eliminate infections capable of causing complications such as hepatitis, cervical cancer through HPV, malaria, among others,” he explained.

Prof. Abayomi added that improving immunisation uptake would require stronger infrastructure, better equipment, and adequate human resources for health.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accountability and inclusivity in healthcare.

“We want to ensure optimal routine performance across all LGAs, respond effectively to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, and foster stronger collaboration between government and the private sector,” he said.

Chairman of Conference 57 and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Mr. Sesan Olowa, who spoke on behalf of council chairmen, assured the taskforce of the unwavering commitment of local governments to support the immunisation campaign.