Immunization: Niger gets Korean, UNICEF support to tackle zero-dose burden in 10 LGAs

By Daniel Ebi, Minna

The Niger State Government has announced plans to intensify immunization interventions in 10 local government areas (LGAs) identified as having a high burden of zero-dose children within the next eight months.

The Commissioner for Health, Murtala Bagana, disclosed this during a Socialization Meeting on the Republic of Korea (ROK)-United Nations Children’s

 Fund (UNICEF) partnership grant aimed at maintaining and strengthening immunization and essential health services in the affected LGAs.

Bagana, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abdullah Imam, attributed the zero-dose burden in the state to insecurity and the large number of hard-to-reach communities.

He commended UNICEF and the Republic of Korea for the support and urged the benefiting LGAs—Bida, Chanchaga, Edati, Gurara, Katcha, Kontagora, Mariga,

Rafi, Suleja and Wushishi, to take ownership of the programme to improve routine immunization and outreach services in health facilities and communities.

“As a state, we are doing everything possible to ensure insecurity is curbed. We can all see the negative impact of insecurity; everybody is worried,” he said.

He added that efforts should go beyond planning for zero-dose children, stressing that every unimmunized child remains vulnerable and poses a risk to others.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency,  Inuwa Junaidu, said the state faces unique security challenges due to its proximity to Zamfara, Kebbi, Kogi and Kaduna states.

He explained that a rapid appraisal was conducted to identify LGAs contributing significantly to the zero-dose burden.

“With support from the Korean government and UNICEF, we are working to identify, enumerate and vaccinate all zero-dose children within the eight-month implementation period,” he said.

He added that the ultimate goal was to reduce the burden of zero-dose children to the barest minimum across Niger State.

In his goodwill message, UNICEF Health Specialist from the Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Ahmed Tsofo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the programme.

“UNICEF will stand with you shoulder to shoulder to ensure that we do our best so that this project succeeds,” he said.

Dr. Tsofo noted that Nigeria currently has the highest global burden of zero-dose children, estimated at 2.1 million, with six states—Adamawa, Bauchi, FCT, Lagos, Niger and Ogun—identified as priority areas.

He said persistent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles and cholera, as well as insecurity, have made it difficult to reach many children in need of vaccination.