By FOLASADE AKPAN

Civil society organisations (CSOs) advocating for child health have urged the Federal Government to immediately release N231 billion earmarked for vaccines in the 2025 budget, alongside N87 billion outstanding from 2024.

The appeal was made on Thursday in Abuja during a joint media conference by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA), Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), and other partners.

The groups warned that delays in releasing immunisation funds were pushing the country toward a national emergency.

They said prompt disbursement would prevent an imminent vaccine stockout, which could leave millions of Nigerian children unprotected and jeopardised ongoing vaccination campaigns and routine immunisation efforts.

They stressed that the urgent release of funds was critical to avoid a stockout by early December, which could expose more than eight million children to measles, polio, diphtheria, pneumonia, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Mrs Chika Offor, Executive Director of VNDC, said Nigeria is “standing at a dangerous crossroads” and risked losing decades of immunisation progress if funds remained unreleased.

“The truth is stark and painful: a vaccine stockout is imminent if we do not release pending funds now. Time is running out, and so are our vaccine supplies,” Offor said.

She also warned that failure to meet Gavi co-financing obligations could lead to suspension of financial support, including 110 million dollars already approved, jeopardising Nigeria’s eligibility for further assistance from 2028.

Dr Muhammed Lecky, Chairperson of the Health Sector Reform Coalition, said health allocations remained unreleased even as the year nears its end.

“Funds appropriated to the Ministry of Health are yet to be released.

“If not now in November, then when?” he asked.

He said that shortfalls in donor support and unreleased budgeted funds had already disrupted the national immunisation programme.

Lecky urged the Ministry of Finance to prioritise health by releasing all 2024 and 2025 allocations, highlighting that timely disbursement would prevent outbreaks and reduce long-term healthcare costs.

Dr Chizoba Wonodi, Convener of WAVA, also appealed for immediate action, saying children should be placed “first in line” for vaccine funding.

“Diseases cannot wait. Our children cannot wait,” Wonodi said.

She called on the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, a “proven champion of health,” to intervene, warning against situations where mothers traveled long distances only to find no vaccines available.

The CSOs pledged to support transparency and accountability in the use of the funds once released.

They reaffirmed that immunisation remained one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, stressing that every day of delay increased the risk of deadly outbreaks. (NAN)