Kwara State has achieved encouraging progress in childhood immunisation coverage and child nutrition metrics, with a higher percentage of infants receiving vital vaccinations and fewer children suffering from malnutrition, according to data from the 2025-2026 Nigeria Mini-Demographic and Health Survey (mini NDHS).

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), Professor Nusirat Elelu, disclosed the findings in a press release issued through the agency's Press Secretary, Bukola Abdulganiyu, characterizing the survey results as promising indicators of advancing child health across the state.

Professor Elelu stated that the official survey, published by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, indicates that the proportion of surveyed infants aged 12 to 23 months in Kwara who received the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine (Penta 3) rose significantly from 34.9 percent in 2024 to 50.4 percent in the 2025-2026 assessment.

She further noted that the proportion of completely unvaccinated, zero-dose children within the same age bracket dropped from 48.1 percent down to 27.3 percent over the evaluated period, demonstrating substantial expansion in delivering essential immunisation services.

The Executive Secretary highlighted that the pentavalent vaccine, administered at six, 10, and 14 weeks after birth, protects infants against five major life-threatening illnesses, including diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.

Professor Elelu also drew attention to notable improvements across child nutrition benchmarks among children under five years old, describing the metrics as encouraging strides toward fostering child survival, healthy physical development, and overall well-being statewide.

She urged parents and guardians to safeguard the recorded progress by regularly taking their children to nearby primary healthcare centers for free routine immunisations, keeping vaccination cards current, attending community health outreaches, and monitoring child growth patterns.

Professor Elelu reaffirmed the agency's commitment to collaborating with healthcare workers, international development partners, community leaders, and families to broaden access to essential medical services and sustain the positive health outcomes achieved for children throughout Kwara State.