By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria recorded a 46 per cent decline in variant poliovirus cases compared to the previous year, according to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The NPHCDA announcement came during the Second Quarter 2025 review meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care Delivery (NTLC) in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting was chaired by the Emir of Argungu, Sa’Maila Muhammad Mera.

Polio or poliomyelitis is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects children under five. It can cause paralysis, respiratory problems, and sometimes death.

The virus spreads through contaminated food, water, or direct contact. Most infections show no symptoms, but some cause fever, fatigue, and limb pain.

Polio is completely preventable through vaccination, which is why campaigns like Nigeria’s NTLC-led efforts are critical.

In his welcome remarks, Mr Mera urged members to intensify their efforts, stressing that the final stretch in the fight against poliovirus was often the toughest.

“We must not relent in our commitment to stopping the transmission of cVPV2 in our Emirates and Kingdoms.

”It is indeed a sacred duty we owe our people whom Almighty Allah has placed under our care,” he said.

The Emir also bemoaned the challenges in the uptake of other integrated services during vaccination campaigns, noting low acceptance of HPV vaccines and anti-malaria interventions in some areas.He called on traditional leaders to educate communities, reassure caregivers, and mobilise households to embrace all vaccines.

“We must redouble our efforts to educate our communities, reassure caregivers, and encourage households to embrace vaccination, as vaccines work,” he stressed.

The ruler also commended NPHCDA and its partners for introducing the strategic shift in vaccination campaigns and welcomed support from Gavi for intensified community sensitisation.

“This support is a clear attestation of the confidence and trust the global community has in the NTLC,” he said.

On his part, the chief executive of NPHCDA, Mr Muyi Aina, said that the reported poliovirus cases had declined from 78 per cent recorded last year to 46 per cent as of today.

“We don’t want to be caught unprepared. This is why we are calling on the collaboration of the media to complement the efforts of our traditional leaders. We are also a voice of the people, and time is not on our side,” he said.

Mr Aina also noted progress in high-burden states such as Kano and Katsina, where infections dropped by 85 and 84 per cent respectively.

He said that between April and June 2025, over 71 per cent of planned settlements were reached during campaigns, rising to 78 per cent in June, while vaccination coverage increased from 81 to 84 per cent.

He also addressed persistent challenges including fake finger-marking and insecurity, which he said undermined the credibility of the campaigns.

“When vaccinators are appointed from Abuja or state capitals, the community does not know them, and there’s no accountability.

“But when traditional leaders are involved in the selection, it improves trust and compliance,” he explained.

He emphasised that providing accurate information to parents remained critical, as no mother would knowingly endanger her child.

In the same vein, the Senior Programme Officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in Nigeria, Mr Sam Okiror, in a goodwill message delivered by its Representative on behalf of the Country Director, commended traditional leaders for their commitment to past immunisation drives, including the newly introduced Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Dr Okiror noted the success of the strategy which empowered traditional leaders to supervise and hold vaccination teams accountable, adding that the approach helped address challenges such as fake finger-marking and non-compliance.

He, however identified two pressing obstacles; low routine immunisation coverage and insecurity in states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Niger, and Borno.

“Low routine immunisation rates, especially in northern states, continue to contribute to the transmission of variant poliovirus and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

”Traditional leaders can play a crucial role in encouraging fathers to support mothers in taking children for immunisation,” he said.

He also urged royal fathers to negotiate safe passage for vaccinators and other primary healthcare services in security-compromised communities.

UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms Wafaa Saeed-Abdelatef, expressed optimism that Nigeria was nearing the final stretch of polio eradication.

She, however, warned that nomadic and mobile populations as well as children in insecure and hard-to-reach areas continue to miss vaccinations.

“We are hopeful that we are now at the final stretch in Nigeria, and also globally.

”Still, nomadic and other mobile populations characterised by frequent movement and limited access to healthcare services continue to pose a challenge to polio eradication efforts, along with other issues such as water and sanitation,” Ms Saeed-Abdelatef said.

She emphasised the critical role of traditional rulers in breaking transmission in the Lake Chad region where cultural and linguistic ties extend across 17 countries.

She also sought the support of traditional rulers in the upcoming integrated measles, rubella, and polio vaccine campaign, which will introduce a new vaccine into Nigeria’s routine immunisation programme.

Ms Saeed-Abdelatef also confirmed progress in primary health care revitalisation, noting that over 1,160 facilities have been upgraded nationwide, with another 2,800 in the process of being equipped.

“More than 54,000 zero-dose children were reached last year, and 774 health fellows have been deployed to strengthen local-level service delivery,” she said.

She noted that traditional leaders’ engagement remained central to vaccination successes, ensuring supervision, accountability, and improved compliance among caregivers.

“With sustained collaboration among government, communities, media, and traditional institutions, Nigeria can finish strong in its race to eliminate the virus,” she said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has launched a collaborative initiative to integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) with communicable disease interventions as part of efforts to strengthen health systems and improve access to essential services.

Led by the Family Health and Public Health Departments, the initiative was designed to overcome longstanding barriers that vulnerable populations face in accessing care such as fragmented services, limited coordination between health programmes, stigma, and low community awareness.

By combining SRHR with communicable diseases interventions, the programme aims to deliver more accessible, efficient, and people-centered care thereby strengthening the integrated delivery of antenatal care, HIV, viral hepatitis, STI, adolescent health, and GBV services to streamline care for vulnerable groups, including adolescents, pregnant women, people living with HIV (PLHIV), and key populations.

According to a statement by the World Health Organisation (WHO), this initiative will also enhance referral systems to ensure seamless transitions between different levels of care and services, including community-based care.

The approach seeks to deliver equitable, efficient, and people-centred healthcare, aligning with Nigeria’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC).

Funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and technically supported by WHO, the initiative will be piloted in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and four states: Anambra, Ebonyi, Gombe, and Kwara.

At the programme’s inception meeting in Abuja, Dr Binyerem Ukaire, Director of the Family Health Department, underscored the value of integrated services.

Additional partners, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Jhpiego, will support implementation through expertise in capacity building and innovative service delivery.

“By centring care around the needs of individuals, particularly women and adolescents, we make services more accessible, affordable, and effective,” she stated. “This initiative bridges critical gaps in our health system.”

Dr Godwin Ntadom, Director of the Public Health Department, highlighted alignment with the Ministry’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), which promotes coordinated planning and service delivery. “Integration fosters a harmonised system, breaking down silos to achieve better health outcomes,” he said.

The initiative contributes to WHO’s efforts to strengthen resilient health systems and advance Sustainable Development Goal 3 (health and well-being).

“Integrated care reduces fragmentation, enhances efficiency, and prioritises people,” said Dr Mya Ngon, Team Lead for Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases at WHO Nigeria. “This approach maximises resources to deliver improved outcomes.”

Additional partners, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Jhpiego, will support implementation through expertise in capacity building and innovative service delivery.

The initiative will be jointly coordinated by the Safe Motherhood Branch of the Family Health Department and the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCP) under the Public Health Department. Implementation includes integrating service delivery at selected primary healthcare facilities, training health workers, updating clinical protocols, and harmonising monitoring tools.

A robust monitoring and evaluation framework will track service uptake, care quality, and health outcomes. Insights from the pilot phase will guide national scale-up.

Bringing your new baby home sparks joy, yet it can be tough, too. Lack of sleep and new meal modes make it hard. A big worry for many is when the baby spits up or shows signs of reflux. A little spit-up is normal, but if there’s a lot of pain, moms may wonder how to ease their baby’s feeding. Learning about baby reflux and how it ties to breastfeeding helps parents soothe their baby and ease feed times. Plus, just as helpful tools like a feeding bottle washer make things clean and simple, having good plans can ease feeding with reflux.

What Is Infant Reflux and How Common Is It?

Baby reflux means food from the belly moves back up to the throat, and it might come out as spit-up after eating. This happens because a baby’s inside parts are still growing, such as the muscle that keeps food down. Many babies deal with this, and in fact, studies show that nearly half of all babies under three months spit up at least once daily. The good news is, most babies get better from it by 12 to 18 months as their bodies grow.

Signs Your Breastfed Baby Might Have Reflux

Now and then, babies may spit up, which is normal. But those with reflux might also show signs like:

• Lots of spit-up or throwing up post-meals.
• Being cranky or upset, mostly when eating.
• Bending their back during or after feeding.
• Gagging, coughing, or hiccupping.
• Not putting on weight or growing slowly if it’s bad.

We need to know that light reflux, not messing with a baby’s weight or ease, is often called “happy spitting.” Yet, if your baby looks in pain or isn’t doing well, they might need changes or doctor help.

Why Reflux Happens in Young Babies

The main cause of acid reflux in babies is that their food pipes are not yet fully grown. The muscle that stops food from going back up is not strong enough to hold milk down all the time.

Other things may play a part too:

1. Giving too much food or feeding too fast.
2. Taking in air while feeding.
3. Not taking well to some foods the mom eats (but this is rare).
4. How the baby sits or lies during or after feeds.

The big problem is growth, and time can be the best help. But for now, there are some ways to ease the signs and help both the baby and mom feel good.

Breastfeeding Positions That Can Help With Reflux

The way you feed your baby can cut down on reflux. Keeping the baby up a bit when feeding helps since gravity keeps milk down. Here are a few ways you can try:

• Laid-back breastfeeding: Mom reclines slightly with baby lying tummy-down across her chest, which slows milk flow and uses gravity to help digestion.
• Upright cradle hold: Holding the baby more vertically in the cradle position allows milk to go down smoothly.
• Football hold: Tucking the baby under the arm, while keeping them elevated, can also help babies with reflux.

Trying out different ways can show what is best for your baby.

Feeding Tips to Reduce Spit-Up and Discomfort

Making a few tiny shifts in how you feed can also cut down on spit-up:

1. Give less food, but more often, instead of long feed times.
2. Let the baby stop and gulp down each bit to keep air out.
3. Keep the baby cool and still before and during feeds — crying makes them suck in more air.
4. Don’t shake, jump, or lay the baby down flat just after feeding.

These little acts can help keep feeding easy for both baby and mom.

How Milk Supply and Letdown Might Affect Reflux

For some moms who feed from the breast, too much milk or a fast milk flow can cause reflux. When milk comes too fast, babies might gulp, take in air, and feel too much, which can make them spit up or get fussy. If you think this is true, try:

• Let out some milk before feeding to make the first flow slower.
• Feed while leaning back so gravity can slow the milk down.
• Give milk from just one side each time to cut down on too much milk.

Handling the amount of milk doesn’t cut back on the nutrition—it just makes feeding better for babies.

Burping and Post-Feeding Routines That Support Digestion

After feeding, it’s key to burp babies who have reflux. Air in the belly adds to the pressure, so letting it out helps ease pain. Good ways to burp are:

• Hold the baby up close to your chest and softly pat the back
• Sit the baby on your lap, keep the head and chest up, and rub the back
• Try to burp when halfway done with the feed, not just after

After feeding, hold the baby up for 20 to 30 minutes to cut down on spit-up. Many parents hold their little ones in carriers to keep them up and use their hands for other things.

When to Talk to a Pediatrician About Persistent Symptoms

Most of the time, acid reflux is not bad and gets better as kids grow. But it can mean a bigger issue called GERD (stomach acid reflux disease) in some cases. You should talk to a child doctor if your little one:

• Does not put on weight or loses weight.
• Cries a lot after or while they feed.
• Does not want to eat or seems hurt when eating.
• Throw up spit that is green, yellow, or has blood.
• Finds it hard to breathe, chokes, or coughs a lot.

Doctors might say to change how you feed them, give medicine, or, not often, do more tests.

Practical Tools That Can Help Parents

Handling reflux is not just about how a baby sits or when they burp. It’s also about keeping the feeding tools clean and safe. Many moms and dads choose to use a bottle washer to clean each day, more so if they use both direct feeding and pumped milk. To make sure bottles, nipples, and pump parts are well washed and free of germs can reduce germs and help a baby’s soft tummy.

Using the right feeding methods with clean tools leads to better health habits overall.

Conclusion

Baby spit-up is a thing many moms who feed with milk know well. It can be tough to deal with the mess or the baby crying often, but understanding what it is and making small tweaks can help a lot. From holding the baby right while feeding and taking it slow, to burping them more and keeping them upright, moms can make their little one feel better while still having good feed times. If the problems stay or get worse, a chat with a baby doctor ensures the baby gets the care they need. Over time, trying new things and using tools like a strong bottle washer, handling baby spit-up gets simpler. As the baby grows, and their belly gets used to food, most spit-up issues end — this leads to happier feed times and peaceful times for both mom and baby.