Niger State Government Steps Up Immunization Push to Tackle Zero-Dose Children
The Niger State Government has unveiled an eight-month plan to strengthen immunization coverage across ten local government areas (LGAs) identified as having the highest numbers of zero-dose children. Zero-dose children are those who have not received any routine vaccinations, particularly missing the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1) in their first year of life.
The initiative, announced at a Socialization Meeting on the Republic of Korea (ROK)–United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) partnership grant, aims to address gaps in routine immunization and essential health services in the selected LGAs: Bida, Chanchaga, Edati, Gurara, Katcha, Kontagora, Mariga, Rafi, Suleja, and Wushishi.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Health Dr. Murtala Bagana, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Abdullah Imam, attributed the challenge largely to insecurity and the presence of hard-to-reach communities. He commended UNICEF and the Republic of Korea for their support and urged the benefiting LGAs to take ownership of the programme to strengthen both facility and community-level immunization services.
“As a state, we are doing everything possible to ensure insecurity is curbed. We can all see its negative impact, and everybody is worried,” Dr. Bagana said. “It is not enough to plan for zero-dose cases; we should plan to eliminate them entirely. Every child that is not immunized is exposed and poses a risk to others.”
The Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Inuwa Junaidu, highlighted that the state faces significant challenges, including insecurity and banditry, due to its proximity to Zamfara, Kebbi, Kogi, and Kaduna States. A rapid assessment was conducted to identify LGAs contributing most to the zero-dose burden.
“With support from the Korean Government and UNICEF, we are working to ensure that all zero-dose children are identified and vaccinated within the eight-month period,” Dr. Junaidu said. The plan includes identifying, enumerating, and vaccinating eligible children to reduce the zero-dose burden to the barest minimum in the state.
In a goodwill message, UNICEF Health Specialist from the Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Ahmed Tsofo, emphasized the importance of strong collaboration with the state government for the programme’s success. “UNICEF will stand shoulder to shoulder with you to ensure the success of this project,” he said.
Dr. Tsofo noted that Nigeria bears the highest global burden of zero-dose children, estimated at 2.1 million, with states including Adamawa, Bauchi, the FCT, Lagos, Niger, and Ogun among the most affected. He added that coverage gaps have contributed to repeated outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and cholera, with insecurity remaining a major barrier to reaching vulnerable children.
The Niger State Government’s renewed focus on immunization underscores the critical need to address health inequities and protect children from preventable diseases, particularly in regions affected by insecurity and limited access to health services.
