In a landmark move to combat childhood diseases and improve national health outcomes, the Federal Government of Nigeria has launched Africa’s largest integrated health campaign, aiming to reach over 100 million Nigerian children with life-saving vaccines and treatments.
The nationwide campaign was officially flagged off on Monday, October 6, 2025, by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Abuja. It combines multiple disease interventions into one comprehensive effort, covering measles, rubella, polio, HPV, malaria prevention, routine immunizations, and treatment for neglected tropical diseases.
Coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the campaign supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes health as a cornerstone of human capital development and national renewal.
Speaking at the launch, the First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to championing women’s and children’s health. She called on all Nigerians to participate actively in the campaign, stressing that collective action is essential for achieving universal coverage. She noted that diseases like measles and rubella continue to cause blindness, disability, and even death among children, and rubella infections during pregnancy can result in serious birth defects.
“A vaccine in a vial does not save a child. A vaccine in a clinic does not protect a community. Protection only becomes real when that vaccine is injected into the arm of a child,” she said, encouraging mothers to vaccinate their children and fathers to provide full support.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the campaign as a historic moment for Nigeria’s health system and one of the largest public health efforts in Africa. He emphasized that this initiative is about transforming the delivery of health services to ensure that no community or child is left behind.
Pate highlighted the progress already made under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that primary healthcare utilization has risen dramatically, from 10 million visits per quarter in 2023 to 47 million in the second quarter of 2025. He also reported that over 15,000 women have benefitted from the Free Emergency Obstetric Care Initiative, while hundreds of thousands of mothers are enrolled in the Mothers and Babies Implementation (MaMi) Programme.
He praised the First Lady for her advocacy and support, describing her as a “mother to the nation” whose leadership in maternal and child health has significantly improved national outcomes.
Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the NPHCDA, described the campaign as “the mother of all health campaigns.” He said it is designed to close immunity gaps, interrupt disease transmission, and improve the uptake of critical health interventions across the country.
He explained that the campaign would be rolled out in two phases, beginning with northern Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory, and Oyo State, while the second phase will cover the southern states between January and February 2026. He expressed concern over recent measles outbreaks reported in all 36 states and the FCT, with more than 10,000 cases and 76 deaths, mostly among unvaccinated children.
Aina also warned about the continued threat of rubella, which is often underreported but can cause serious birth defects when contracted by pregnant women. He reiterated that the campaign is not only about vaccines but about building resilient communities and giving every Nigerian child a fair chance to live and thrive.
The campaign has been strongly supported by international partners, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi—the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Nigeria’s traditional and religious leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife, have also lent their voices in support of the initiative.
Professor Pate urged state governors, health commissioners, and local government chairpersons to take full ownership of the campaign and ensure its success at the grassroots level. He stressed that strong leadership and accountability at every level of government would be critical to reaching every child.
He also warned against misinformation about vaccines, stating that science and truth must guide Nigeria’s public health efforts. “Together, we will save lives, prevent suffering, and build a stronger, healthier Nigeria,” he concluded.
As the campaign begin nationwide, it represented a major step toward achieving Health for All Nigerians a goal that transcends politics, ethnicity, or geography, and unites the country in a shared vision for a healthier future.
