Nigeria has the highest number of unvaccinated children against measles, according to report released by the World Health Organisation, WHO.
The new report indicates that 20.8 million children worldwide are still missing their first measles vaccine dose and more than half of these unvaccinated children live in six countries.
In a joint press statement sponsored by CDC/GAVI/UNICEF and WHO on the report, they noted that in spite of the substantial decline of global measles death, a lot still needs to be done.
Nigeria tops the list of countries with unvaccinated children from measles with 3.3 million children, followed by India – 2.9 million, Pakistan – 2.0 million, Indonesia – 1.2 million, Ethiopia – 0.9 million and Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, with 0.7 million.
Since measles is a highly contagious viral disease, large outbreaks continue to occur in these countries including Nigeria resulting in some deaths.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said a surveillance data shows that measles incidence among children under five years increased in Northern Nigeria.
A UNICEF survey earlier revealed that measles among children under the age of five increased more than two-fold in Northern Nigeria between 2014 and 2016.
Though there has been a substantial decline in global measles death, Nigeria still tops the chat of far too many children who are still missing their first measles vaccine dose.
A new report published by the World Health Organisation, indicates that 20.8 million children are still missing their first measles vaccine dose and more than half of these unvaccinated children live in six countries.
The joint press release which was sponsored by CDC/GAVI/UNICEF and WHO noted in spite the substantial decline of global measles death, some six countries account for more than half of children missing their first measles vaccine dose.
Nigeria tops these countries with 3.3 million, followed by India 2.9 million, Pakistan 2.0 million, Indonesia 1.2 million, Ethiopia 0.9 million and Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, with 0.7 million.