Breaking Barriers: Nigerian Government Launches Largest Health Campaign to Protect 100 Million Children
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a massive health campaign targeting over 100 million children nationwide. The campaign, flagged off by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, aims to provide life-saving vaccines and treatments for various diseases, including measles, rubella, polio, human papillomavirus (HPV), malaria, and neglected tropical diseases.
The campaign is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places health at the centre of Nigeria’s human capital development and national renewal drive.
Speaking at the launch, the First Lady described the flag-off as “a declaration of our collective resolve as a nation to say ‘No More’ to the diseases that rob our sons and daughters of their future.”
She noted that measles and rubella remain among the leading causes of blindness, disability, and child mortality, adding that rubella infections during pregnancy can result in blindness, deafness, or congenital heart defects in unborn children.
According to her, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes giving every Nigerian child a healthy start in life and ensuring that no mother dies while giving birth.
The objective of the initiative include, Close immunity gaps and interrupt disease transmission, Improve uptake of essential vaccines and treatments, Protect futures and build resilient communities and Ensure every child in Nigeria has a fair chance to live and thrive
The initiative has received support from key development partners, including UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
A statement by the Deputy Director/Head, Information & Public Relations of the ministry, Alaba Balogun, said the Phase 1 will cover 19 northern states, the Federal Capital Territory, and Oyo State, while Phase 2 will cover southern states from January to February 2026
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who also spoke at the flag-off described the campaign as “a historic moment for Nigeria’s health system,” adding that it represents one of the largest coordinated public health efforts on the African continent, and possibly, anywhere in the world.
“This is not just a vaccination campaign. It is about reimagining how we deliver health services to our people, ensuring that no one, no community, and no child is left behind,” Pate said.
The Minister emphasized that the campaign reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to rebuilding trust in public institutions through healthcare delivery that reaches the most vulnerable.
“The President is healing the nation, unifying our people through health, and inspiring confidence that Nigeria can deliver for its citizens,” he added.
Pate commended the First Lady for her strong advocacy for women and children’s health, describing her as “a mother to the nation” whose personal involvement in immunization, cervical cancer prevention, and maternal health programmes continues to strengthen national health outcomes.
Highlighting the Tinubu administration’s achievements in the health sector, Prof. Pate revealed that primary health care utilization in Nigeria has increased from 10 million visits per quarter in 2023 to 47 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the system.
He also stated that more than 15,000 women have benefited from the Free Emergency Obstetric Care Initiative, introduced under the Renewed Hope Agenda, while hundreds of thousands are enrolled under the Mothers and Babies Implementation (MaMi) Programme, a maternal care initiative providing comprehensive support during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Through the President’s leadership, our health system is being rebuilt from the ground up. We are expanding functional primary health centres, improving health worker motivation, and increasing insurance coverage to give families peace of mind,” Pate said.
Meanwhile, the government has shown strong commitment to healthcare, with primary health care utilization increasing from 10 million visits per quarter in 2023 to 47 million in the second quarter of 2025
– Over 15,000 women have benefited from the Free Emergency Obstetric Care Initiative, and hundreds of thousands are enrolled under the Mothers and Babies Implementation (MaMi) Programme ¹ ².
