Health

WHO, UNICEF warn funding gap could reverse immunisation gains in poorer countries

Published

3 weeks ago

July 15, 2026

Preport

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have warned that funding shortfalls could reverse recent gains in routine immunisation across lower-income countries despite record vaccination coverage achieved in 2025.

The warning is contained in the latest WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunisation Coverage (WUENIC), analysed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

According to the report, lower-income countries immunised a record 73 million children with Gavi-supported vaccines in 2025, the highest number ever recorded.

It said three-fourths of all countries maintained or improved coverage with the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) vaccine in 2025, the highest proportion in more than two decades.

It added that two-thirds of countries have a DTP3 coverage rate of 80 per cent or higher.

Average coverage across Gavi-supported vaccines, referred to as the “breadth of protection”, reached 65 per cent in 2025, matching the global average for the first time.

According to the report, this represents a 16-percentage-point increase since 2019, driven largely by the introduction and expansion of new vaccines.

Progress in fragile settings

The report also highlighted improvements in countries affected by fragility and conflict.

Average DTP3 coverage across the 12 countries classified as fragile or conflict-affected increased by five percentage points to 66 per cent in 2025.

Sudan recorded the world’s largest improvement, with DTP3 coverage rising by 32 percentage points.

Despite the progress, the report noted that these countries have yet to recover to pre-pandemic immunisation levels.

It added that one-quarter of all zero-dose children in lower-income countries live in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

HPV and malaria vaccines

The report highlighted progress in efforts to prevent cervical cancer and malaria through vaccination.

According to the findings, lower income countries have now protected 95 million girls with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, including 79 million in the past three years alone. This exceeded Gavi’s target of protecting 86 million girls by the end of 2025.

The report said HPV vaccine coverage now stands at 29 per cent, close to the global average of 31 per cent.

It also noted that malaria vaccines are now being delivered through routine immunisation programmes in 25 African countries, representing more than 70 per cent of the world’s malaria burden.

Although WUENIC does not yet include malaria vaccine data, the report said countries are already reporting reductions in severe malaria cases, deaths and hospitalisations.

It cited Ghana, where under-five malaria deaths fell by 86 per cent between 2019 and 2024, and Burkina Faso, which reported a 32 per cent decline in malaria cases between 2024 and 2025 following nationwide expansion of the malaria vaccine programme.

Measles immunity gaps

Despite the gains, the report warned that immunity gaps for measles remain a significant concern.

Coverage with the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine remained at 80 per cent in lower income countries, while coverage with the second dose increased to 72 per cent in 2025.

However, about 15.6 million children in Gavi-supported countries still missed their first dose of the measles vaccine.

The report warned that the immunity gaps remain a significant concern because of the high transmissibility of the virus and the risk of serious outbreaks.

Funding concerns

Despite the progress recorded in 2025, Gavi warned that sustaining the gains will require continued investment.

The report noted that 2025 was the last fully funded year of Gavi’s current strategic period.

However, it stated that Gavi’s next strategic period, covering 2026 to 2030, is not yet fully funded, putting progress at risk.

According to the report, reduced financing could affect investments in key areas, including malaria vaccine programmes, the introduction of hexavalent and multivalent meningitis vaccines, preventive vaccination campaigns and global vaccine stockpiles.

The report also identified fiscal pressures, geopolitical instability, disease outbreaks, rising birth cohorts and vaccine hesitancy as challenges that are making progress more difficult.

Although the number of zero-dose children declined in 2025, about 9.5 million children in lower income countries still had not received a single vaccine dose.

The report stressed that reaching these children, many of whom live in underserved communities, remains critical to saving lives, promoting equity and strengthening global health security.

Sustained investment

The Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, Sania Nishtar, said the record level of immunisation demonstrates what can be achieved when governments and partners work towards a common goal.

Ms Nishtar said sustaining the progress would require continued commitment as countries face funding constraints, geopolitical uncertainty and increasing disease outbreaks. She added that greater efforts would also be needed to reach children who still do not have access to immunisation.

“The historic levels of immunisation that we are seeing across lower income countries shows what can be achieved when all stakeholders work together towards a shared objective”, she said.

Ms Nishtar noted that as Gavi heads into a new five-year period, its greatest challenge will be maintaining the momentum in the face of funding constraints, geopolitical uncertainty and increasing outbreaks, while working harder to reach children who still do not have access to immunisation.

She called on countries to increase domestic financing for immunisation and urged donors to support Gavi’s 2026–2030 strategic period.

Related Topics:countries funding Gains Gap immunisation poorer reverse UNICEF warn

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Health

UNFPA partners Lagos, GoMed to expand reproductive health services for Nigerian students

Published

4 hours ago

August 6, 2026

Preport

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Lagos State government and GoMed Nigeria, a digital health platform, have launched a digital self-care initiative to improve access to reproductive health services for students.

According to a press release on Wednesday, the initiative will initially serve students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), providing access to free contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health commodities.

The partners noted that the platform is aimed at addressing barriers such as cost, distance, stigma, misinformation and concerns about confidentiality, which often prevent young people from accessing reproductive health services.

According to them, these barriers contribute to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections and disruptions to education among young people.

A 2025 study titled: Factors Associated with Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Utilisation Among Female Students in a Nigerian Tertiary Institution, published in the African Journal of Stability and Development, also found that the utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services among female students remained low due to structural and behavioural factors, including stigma, financial constraints, long waiting times and concerns about confidentiality

What the platform offers

Through the platform, GoMed noted that students will receive free contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health commodities provided by the Lagos State Ministry of Health and UNFPA.

They will also have access to discounted health products and discreet delivery to campuses and student hostels.

Students can also access sexual and reproductive health information through UNFPA’s SoftLife 247 and U-Plan platforms.

Through U-Plan, they can chat with qualified family planning service providers for accurate information and support, while GoMed’s registered pharmacists will provide confidential guidance on medicines and other health products.

The partners said the initiative supports UNFPA’s efforts to address the unmet need for family planning among young people by improving access to reproductive health commodities and information.

They added that it also aligns with the Lagos State government’s efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among young people while expanding access to youth-friendly health services.

More details

Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of GoMed Nigeria, Anthony Edeki, said the platform was designed to bring trusted healthcare closer to students while protecting their privacy.

“Students should be able to get reliable health information and essential products without cost, distance or fear of judgement becoming barriers. This platform brings free sexual and reproductive health commodities, other affordable health products and professional guidance together, with discreet delivery directly to students on campus,” Mr Edeki said.

ALSO READ: 1 million more midwives needed to save 4 million lives yearly – UNFPA

The UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, said the partnership would help improve access to life-saving reproductive health information and commodities.

“As the UN agency mandated for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, we are committed to reducing preventable maternal deaths and addressing the unmet need for family planning, including by providing and overseeing access to life-saving commodities worldwide,” Ms Mafico said.

“Working alongside our partners, we’re helping roll out the digital Self-Care Platform so that vital, life-changing information can reach more people, more easily.

“Together, we want to empower Nigeria’s next generation to make informed health choices and achieve stronger health outcomes and a brighter future.”

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Health

Oluwo of Iwo bans Hennessy, other alcoholic drinks from palace

Published

1 day ago

August 5, 2026

Preport

Oluwo of Iwoland Abdulrosheed Akanbi.jpg

The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has banned Hennessy and other alcoholic drinks from his palace, saying they pose health risks and should not be offered to him or other elders.

The traditional ruler announced the decision in a video shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday.

Mr Akanbi warned that anyone who brings alcoholic drinks to the palace intends to “eliminate the king.”

Health concerns

Mr Akanbi said the gin, schnapps and imported spirits often reserved for elders are harmful to health and should no longer be brought to his palace.

“The so-called alcohol usually presented or reserved for the elders is detrimental to their health – it leads to death,” he said.

“Anyone who brings hot drinks to the king’s palace wants to eliminate the king. Gin, schnapps reserved for the elderly should not be brought to my palace because what they call alcohol for the elderly is made by the Western people to kill and destroy internal organs. It will render the kidneys useless.”

The traditional ruler said he recently learnt that some visitors had brought Hennessy to the palace.

“I heard you brought Hennessy; don’t bring it here o; you want to kill me. Anyone who brings Hennessy or other dangerous alcoholic drinks has the intention to kill me. So, I should drink an entire bottle; what will I use to pray?” he asked.

He argued that alcohol was not part of Yoruba ancestral practice.

Health experts have long warned about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, including liver disease and kidney damage.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that “no level of alcohol consumption is completely safe for health”

Criticism of traditional practices

Mr Akanbi also condemned what has become a cultural practice where masquerades wield canes and beat people on the road.

He described it as violence. “Are Yoruba cows? How can I be a king and people are being macheted in the streets? Are we butchers?”

He noted that adherents of traditional religion should eliminate the violent practices if they want wider acceptance.

He also criticised the restriction of movement during the Oro festival, describing it as unconstitutional and questioning why women should be prevented from moving freely during some traditional festivals.

“We restrict people’s movement; even the president cannot do that. It is unconstitutional. It is illegal,” he said.

He also queried why women should be restricted from walking during certain traditional festivals.

Since ascending the throne in 2016, the Oluwo of Iwo has frequently spoken against some traditional and cultural practices in Yorubaland.

He has also been involved in several ‘fights’ with religious and traditional leaders. He was suspended by the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers for allegedly behaving improperly to some fellow traditional rulers.

Mr Akanbi, in his reaction, said the suspension is “a mere audio pronouncement.