Gavi Pledges $3 Million to Boost Immunization in Kaduna State

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

The Gavi Alliance has announced a $3 million investment over the next two years to strengthen routine immunization and primary health care in Kaduna State, a move expected to accelerate progress towards universal vaccine coverage.

The announcement was made by Jessica Crawford, Senior Country Manager for Nigeria at the Gavi Secretariat, during a high-level field mission to Kaduna State. The visit included engagements with top state officials, health facility tours, and strategy meetings with partners.

“Kaduna State has shown strong leadership, coordination, and results in immunization. This funding will help build on those successes, tackle hard-to-reach areas, and ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines,” Crawford said.

She explained that the $3 million support, drawn from Gavi’s latest Health System Strengthening (HSS) grant, will be implemented in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and other alliance partners.

The funding according to her, will focus on critical priorities such as improving vaccine delivery, addressing inequities in coverage, and reducing the number of “zero-dose” children—those who have never received a single routine vaccine.

Over the past seven years, Gavi has supported Kaduna through cold chain equipment provision, vaccine supply operations, outbreak response, workforce support, and direct vaccine procurement.

“We are pleased to see these investments in action and are committed to working with Kaduna to maximize impact,” Crawford added.

Hassan Shea-Ousmane, Head of Routine Immunization at NPHCDA, highlighted the federal government’s central role in ensuring vaccine availability nationwide.

“The federal government, through NPHCDA, procures vaccines for all states in Nigeria, ensuring every child is vaccinated. Partners like Gavi complement these efforts with funding, equipment, and other essential resources to strengthen our health facilities,” he said.

Hassan noted that Gavi’s national pledge stands at $13 million over three years, with states providing counterpart contributions.

“While Gavi often provides the larger share, the government also commits its own resources to ensure we achieve full immunization coverage,” he stressed.

Addressing the issue of children missing out on basic immunization, Dr Bakunawa Garba Bello, Deputy Director of Routine Immunization and Gavi Desk Officer at NPHCDA, explained the scale of the problem.

“By definition, a zero-dose child is one who has not received the first dose of the pentavalent vaccine (Penta 1) by the age of 23 months. Nigeria unfortunately has one of the highest zero-dose burdens globally, with 2.3 million identified in 2022. This has been reduced to about 2.1 million, but much work remains,” Dr Bello said.

Kaduna is one of five states, alongside Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, and Bayelsa selected for intensive engagement with Gavi to address immunization gaps.

Dr Bello emphasized the importance of community engagement through religious, traditional, and local leaders, supported by the national risk communication team, to combat vaccine hesitancy.

“Our strategy is to ensure no one is left behind. That means working directly with communities, men and women alike, to build trust and demand for vaccines,” he noted.

In her remarks, Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe described Gavi’s commitment as a reaffirmation of the shared mission to protect the health and future of Kaduna’s children.

“Through our joint efforts with Gavi, NPHCDA, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we have expanded immunization coverage, strengthened cold-chain infrastructure, trained and deployed frontline health workers, and improved health data systems.

“These achievements translate into healthier children, stronger families, and lives saved from preventable diseases,” she said.

The Deputy Governor acknowledged persistent challenges, including reaching children in remote and insecure communities and tackling vaccine hesitancy.

She reiterated the state’s commitment to revitalizing primary health care facilities, deploying innovative supply chain solutions, and sustaining community engagement.

“Together, we can not only sustain the progress we have made but also accelerate towards the goal of universal immunization coverage and improved wellbeing for all,” Dr Balarabe concluded.

The Gavi field mission to Kaduna is part of a broader national effort to address immunization gaps, with the next phase focusing on coordinated planning between the state, national agencies, and global partners to ensure every child is reached with life-saving vaccines.

Gavi Alliance, is a public-private partnership comprised of various organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Gates Foundation.