The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has described vaccines as one of humanity’s greatest achievements, stating that essential vaccines have saved over 154 million lives in the past 50 years.
The Chief of Field Office at UNICEF's Enugu office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, made this known in Enugu on Thursday during a two-day multi-zonal media dialogue to commemorate the 2025 World Immunization Week, WIW.
Chiluwe, who announced the theme of this year’s campaign as ‘Immunization for All is Humanly Possible', noted that an extensive immunization exercise would be carried out across 12 targeted states.
She listed the states to include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Delta, Imo, and Kogi.
Speaking to journalists and health practitioners present at the event, Chiluwe said: “I am happy to be here on this auspicious occasion of the fostering dialogue that will help promote and provide quality immunization services to everyone, especially the children we serve.
“In 2025, as we approach World Immunization Week, WIW, 2025, it is essential to underscore the continued relevance of this global observance. This year's theme reaffirms the feasibility and necessity of protecting everyone, from newborns to the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases, through inclusive and equitable immunization services.
“Today kick-starts the WIW commemoration across the world and UNICEF joins efforts with healthcare providers and governments to promote the values of immunization services as should, which entails getting to the last mile.
“UNICEF uses this opportunity to emphasize that Vaccines are proof that less disease, more life is possible when we put our minds to it. It’s time to show the world that ‘Immunization for All is Humanly Possible'.
“Vaccines remain one of humanity’s greatest achievements and over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives. That’s six lives a minute, every day, for five decades.”
The media dialogue, co-sponsored by the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, was attended by journalists from all the targeted states. The hybrid event also featured commitments from journalists to monitor the immunization exercise within their respective states, particularly in rural areas.
