Gavi, WHO, UNICEF Identify Zero-Dose Children, Insecurity as Kaduna Immunisation Challenges
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Kaduna State has recorded improvements in infant and neonatal mortality rates and utilisation of healthcare services but continues to face challenges with rising numbers of zero-dose children and recurring outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Professor Bello Jamoh, disclosed this on Monday, during a high-level Immunisation delegation visit to the state by representatives of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Jamoh said a comparison with the 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey showed improvements in infant and neonatal mortality rates, healthcare utilisation and skilled birth attendance, but noted that the increase in zero-dose children remained a major concern.
He explained that the situation had contributed to the state’s vulnerability to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly diphtheria, stressing the need for coordinated interventions to address the gaps in immunisation coverage.
He said the state had conducted diagnostic assessments and proposed key strategies to address the challenges, adding that discussions with the visiting delegation had produced jointly developed action plans with clearly assigned responsibilities.
According to him, the state government, under Governor Uba Sani, had demonstrated the political will required to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, expressing optimism that the partnership with development partners would produce sustainable results.
The Gavi Chief Country Delivery Officer, Thabani Mphosa, commended the Kaduna State Government for its transparency and willingness to acknowledge existing challenges and work with development partners to address them.
Mphosa identified insecurity as one of the factors affecting healthcare delivery but acknowledged initiatives such as the DRIVE programme, which he said was helping to address vaccine stock-outs.
He noted that the state had clearly defined its development priorities under its 2+2 agenda, making it easier for partners to align their interventions with government objectives.
He, however, stressed the need for better coordination and discipline in implementing agreed programmes to achieve the desired results.
Also speaking, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Rownak Khan, said the delegation was impressed with the services observed at the health facility, including routine immunisation, nutrition, adolescent and young people’s health services and family planning.
Khan, however, expressed concern over the number of children who had not received any routine vaccine doses, warning that failure to close the immunisation gaps could expose communities to outbreaks of diphtheria, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
She called on the state government to adequately fund healthcare services and implement its plans to improve routine immunisation.
Khan disclosed that UNICEF’s support to Kaduna included an innovative vaccine delivery approach that had contributed to reducing vaccine stock-outs from almost 80 per cent to 25 per cent.
She added that the organisation would sustain its support for vaccine delivery and polio eradication, alongside other development partners.
The Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at NPHCDA, Dr Garba Ahmed Rufai, said the delegation’s engagement with residents of Bakallahu community in Igabi Local Government Area provided an opportunity to understand community perspectives on immunisation.
Rufai said a recent disease outbreak in the community, which reportedly claimed the lives of five children, had increased residents’ awareness of the dangers of immunisation gaps.
He particularly commended the community leader for mobilising ward heads, husbands and other male household members to ensure that children received their scheduled vaccinations.
He described the involvement of men in community immunisation mobilisation as an important development, noting that their participation could strengthen efforts to protect children against preventable diseases.
Similarly, the Director of the WHO Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, Dr Kate O’Brien, said the delegation’s interaction with mothers, fathers and community leaders provided insights into how residents valued immunisation.
O’Brien said while several mothers had fully vaccinated their children, others still needed to complete their children’s vaccination schedules.
She emphasised that vaccines remained a safe and life-saving intervention for protecting children and helping them grow into healthy adults.
The delegation also visited Primary Healthcare Centre, Sabon Tasha, in Chikun Local Government Area, where members assessed service delivery and interacted with healthcare workers.
The visit formed part of efforts to assess Kaduna State’s immunisation programme, identify gaps in primary healthcare delivery and strengthen collaboration between the state government and development partners. It also preceded the Joint Annual Review involving UNICEF, WHO, Gavi and other partners.
