FG Records 400% Surge in Hospital Visits as 47 Million Receive Life-Saving Vaccines

In a landmark broadcast detailing Nigeria’s healthcare trajectory, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed a massive expansion in the country’s immunization and service delivery.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government has successfully administered over 25 million doses of the measles vaccine and 22 million yellow fever vaccinations nationwide, signaling a new era of preventive medicine under the current administration.

Prof. Pate, who shared these updates on Sunday via his official X handle, highlighted that Nigeria is no longer just a “disease-burdened” nation but is emerging as a global leader in domestic resource mobilization.

The Minister’s report highlighted several historic “firsts” for the Nigerian health sector. Most notable is the deployment of the R21 Matrix-M malaria vaccine. With Nigeria accounting for nearly 40% of global malaria deaths among children under five, the rollout in Kebbi and Bayelsa states marks a pivotal shift. In Kebbi alone, the government is targeting nearly 180,000 children for this life-saving intervention.

Furthermore, Nigeria has made significant strides in other critical areas:

Mpox: The successful rollout of Africa’s first Mpox vaccine.

Diphtheria & Tetanus: Over 10 million Nigerians have been reached with tetanus-diphtheria shots.

Cervical Cancer: Since October 2023, more than 14 million girls aged 9 to 14 have received the HPV vaccine, achieving an impressive 90% coverage rate.

Meningitis: One million doses from the Gavi-funded global stockpile were deployed to halt outbreaks in the North.

Perhaps the most startling statistic shared by the Minister was the dramatic increase in health facility utilization. Data shows that in the second quarter of 2024, Nigerian hospitals recorded approximately 10 million visits. By the second quarter of 2025, that number skyrocketed to over 45 million visits, a more than fourfold increase. Prof. Pate attributed this 400% surge to improved access, better infrastructure, and a reduction in the misinformation that previously hindered vaccine uptake.

The Minister emphasized that these gains are backed by a “Sector-Wide Approach” (SWAp) that coordinates efforts between all tiers of government and international partners. To sustain this momentum, the Federal Government recently approved an additional ₦68 billion for vaccine financing, lodged with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Internationally, Nigeria’s commitment remains firm. In 2025, the country invested $54 million in the global fight against tuberculosis and was recognized at the G20 meeting in Johannesburg as the largest African contributor to the Global Fund.

Prof. Pate concluded by stating that the “Renewed Hope” agenda is fundamentally about the development of the Nigerian person, ensuring that avoidable illnesses no longer limit the productivity and dignity of the nation’s 240 million citizens.