Funding and Implementation of National Programme on Immunization in Nigeria: Case Study of Bekwarra Local Government Area, Cross River State

This study investigated how funding has affected effective implementation of National Programme on Immunization (NPI) in Bekwarra Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria from 2003-2016. To achieve this objective, a research hypothesis was formulated. A total of 200 Health workers were randomly selected using survey inferential research design from the population of 320 Health workers in the study area. A well validated Likert type scale instrument called Immunization Related Issues Questionnaire (IRIQ) consisting of 22 items with a reliability index of 0.84 was the instrument for data collection. Data collected from the respondents were subjected to the Chi-Suare statistics to test the hypothesis in the study. The result of the test was significant at 0.05 level and it was concluded that funding significantly influences effective implementation of immunization programme in Bekwarra Local Government Area. The study noted that adequate funds are not provided for effective implementation of National Programme on Immunization (NPI), and whenever funds are provided, it is often mismanaged. Also, it was revealed that non-governmental organization (NGOs) should assist in funding immunization programme by providing logistics and technical equipment for effective programme implementation. It was recommended among others that both the government and health donor agencies should provide adequate funds for effective implementation of immunization programmes. Also, there should be a proper monitoring mechanism for utilization of funds meant for Immunization programmes.