Is Immunisation Really Free in Nigeria

Many children die of preventable diseases.According  to UNICEF,Nigeria losses about 2,300  under five year-old  every day.And 22%  of these death is caused by vaccine preventable diseases.The diseases include yellow fever,hepatitis,tuberculosis,poliomyelitis,measles,yellow fever,mumps,hepatitis,meningitis  etc.

In order to arrest the above trend,there has been increased call to mothers and care givers to ensure that their children/wards under the age of five years are immunised.The Nigerian government and international organisations have also added their support by providing these vaccines for free.

However,there is the question as regards whether these vaccines are really free.Some mothers have complained that immunisation is not free as they are made to pay .Mrs Daisy Edomwonyi explained that in her hospital which is a private one located in Benin city,Nigeria she paid 800 naira so her child can be immunized.While Mrs Aderope was asked to pay 200 naira in one of the government owned hospitals in Lagos.The response she got from the nurse on why she was been charged was that the money was for transportation cost of bringing the vaccines to the hospital.

This situation is what is obtainable in both private and public hospitals in Nigeria.Private hospitals immunisation fees range from 600 -2,000 naira and public hospitals from 100-500 naira.One wonders why payment should be made at all when these vaccines are free.In addition these mothers also incur other cost such as the purchasing of gloves,arsobent changing mat and vaccination needles.

The appropriate authorities must look into this.As this can constitute a roadblock to getting more children immunised.