The Kwara Government on Tuesday said the State has made significant strides on routine immunization, as over 1 million children were vaccinated in 2025.
Prof. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency stated this while speaking at the 1st Quarterly Meeting of the Kwara State Taskforce on Immunization in Ilorin.
According to her, in the Polio Outbreak Response, over a million children were covered in the immunization across the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs)
She explained that Moro LGA had the widest coverage of 91 percent, adding that all the Wards in the State were visited despite the insecurity situation.
Elelu however explained that due to the insecurity in some communities including Kiama LGA, Supplemental Immunization activities had to be carried out to quickly improve immunity of children.
She observed that the insecurity compromised the community with two confirmed cases of Circulating Variant of Polio Virus 2 (CvPv 2) in Dec. 2025.
Elelu lamented on the increasing insecurity spreading to more communities.
She also cited the none release of LGA counterpart funds in some LGAs, while calling for political will and urge the LGA leadership to provide more support for PHC activities on the State.
She however reiterated the resolve of the State government in ensuring that security architecture is deployed to protect communities and healthcare workers for full immunization exercise for Kwara children.
The executive secretary described the Quarterly Meetings as a statutory engagement of the Agency with other stakeholders in high decision making.
She said: “the National Immunization Plus Days targeting zero to nine months will commence soon”.
In his reaction, the Kwara Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi commended the Agency on their activities in relation to immunization and primary healthcare.
He however expressed displeasure on the lack of interest shown by the Local Government Chairmen across the State in fully partaking in activities relating to PHC in their respective communities.
He emphasised that the State will not tolerate such actions from any quarters and will continue to give primary healthcare the highest priority in the State.
The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, emphasised the critical role of vaccines in preventing diseases.
El-Imam who was represented by the Parmernent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Taoheed Abdullahi, observed that progress is being made in protecting children through immunization.
She however urge for more efforts in ensuring no child is left behind.
“We will continue to focus on strengthening immunization and enhancing engagement to do away with vaccine hesitancy,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Seun Ogunniyi, Chairman House Committee on Health and Nutrition, Kwara House of Assembly emphasised on the importance of primary healthcare in the State.
He reiterated that the House will continue to support activities of the Agency in strengthening immunization in the State.
Ogunniyi pointed out that the Agency is doing well judging by the scorecard in health indices in the State.
