₦9.8bn Needed to Sustain Kaduna’s HPV Vaccine Success — Report
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Kaduna State may need over ₦9.8 billion in the next five years to sustain the gains made during the successful rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, according to a new financial assessment report by the Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA) and the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR).
The report, which was presented during the Kaduna State Policy Dialogue on HPV by the Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA), in partnership with the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR), in collaboration with the State Primary Healthcare Board,. reviewed the 2023–2024 HPV vaccination program across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas.
The report warned that the absence of a dedicated budget line, irregular co-financing, and overreliance on donor funding could undermine the state’s ability to maintain full coverage for adolescent girls.
Although Kaduna achieved a remarkable 100 percent vaccination coverage last year according to the report, using school campaigns, fixed posts, and community outreaches, the report says the sustainability of that success now depends on the government’s willingness to institutionalize HPV funding within its Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and local health plans.
“The HPV campaign in Kaduna is a textbook example of what can be achieved with political will and strong community engagement.
“But that momentum will fade quickly if the financing gaps are not closed. Routine immunization cannot thrive on donor dependency,” the study added.
The assessment identified service delivery, demand generation, cold chain maintenance, and supervision as the biggest cost drivers.
It also highlighted key risks such as health worker fatigue due to inconsistent allowances, weak adolescent health services, and declining post-campaign mobilization.
WaVa’s Program Director, Goodness Hadley, described the findings as “a wake-up call for policymakers.”
She noted Kaduna’s next step should be to create a sustainable adolescent immunization blueprint that ensures stable funding and accountability.
“We have proven that the people trust the vaccine. Now the government must show equal commitment by making HPV vaccination part of routine budgeting and delivery,” she said.
The report urged the Kaduna State Government to establish a coordinated financing platform involving the Ministries of Health, Education, and Planning; leverage partnerships with civil society and faith-based groups for community outreach; and engage the private sector to co-finance vaccine logistics through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
It also recommended that the state integrate HPV indicators into its performance scorecards and strengthen last-mile delivery systems, especially in hard-to-reach and insecure communities.
Analysts say Kaduna’s strong political leadership gives it a unique advantage to become a model for adolescent immunization nationwide if it can bridge the funding gap and institutionalize what is already working.
