Improving the Alignment of Measles Notification in Nigeria with Response Activities (Measles Immunization): An Overview from 2012-2016

Abstract

Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year globally. Measles is one of the viral diseases preventable with adequate measles routine immunization (MRI). WHO has the mandate that by the end of 2020, at least five WHO regions amongst which is Africa should have eliminated measles. This study examined improving the alignment of measles notification with response activities (measles immunization) retrospectively in Nigeria from 2012-2016.

This is a 5 year retrospective MRI data from 2012-2016 collected from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the agency responsible for immunization in the country with the permission of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This was examined to ascertain the extent of MRI coverage in Nigeria for five years. Also, measles data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) collected from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was examined for the same period of time (2012-2016). The collected data were analyzed to see if MRI and measles cases are synergistic and aligned to eliminating measles.

The MRI coverage for the observed years appeared relatively high, yet the measles cases were also relatively high; suggesting that MRI coverage did not have significant effect in reducing the number of measles cases in the observed. Specifically, the number of measles cases in the North zones was relatively higher than the South zones despite apparent increase in MRI coverage in the North (2012-2016). The South zones showed inconsistencies in MRI coverage.

From this study, there is need for NCDC and NPHCDA to brainstorm and collaborate to consider strategies to harmoniously combat measles and key into the principles of the measles 2^nd dose vaccination (MCV2) if Nigeria is to progress to the elimination phase of measles infection.

Keywords: Measles vaccine, Infectious disease, measles elimination, Nigeria,