Save the Children International (SCI) has raised alarm over the alarming number of zero-dose children—those who have never received a single routine vaccine—in Nigeria, estimating the figure at 2.1 million.
The revelation was made in a press statement signed by Delfhin Mugo, Media Manager at SCI, highlighting a new initiative aimed at breaking barriers to child immunization.
The initiative, backed by Save the Children Immunisation Accelerator and funded by GSK, has awarded grants to two innovative projects in Nigeria and Ethiopia to tackle vaccine hesitancy and reach underserved communities.
Two organizations, Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) in Nigeria and HABTech Solutions PLC in Ethiopia, were selected from 120 submissions to receive technical and financial support, including grants of nearly $100,000 each, to further their efforts in improving immunization coverage.
According to Dr. Bolanle Oyeledun, CEO of CIHP, their approach leverages community-driven behavioral change strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy, particularly in urban slums of Lagos State.
“Our innovation will focus on real-life experiences of caregivers who successfully vaccinated their children, using their stories to inspire others. This funding will help identify gaps and missed opportunities in immunization uptake, moving us closer to our goal of higher vaccination coverage,” Dr. Oyeledun explained.
On the other hand, Adane Letta Mamuye, General Manager at HABTech, emphasized the role of data analytics in tracking zero-dose children, particularly in remote communities. Their technology-driven approach aims to map out immunization gaps, address vaccine shortages, and provide real-time solutions to improve immunization efforts.
Speaking on the initiative, Ermias Teshome, Save the Children Immunisation Accelerator Lead, underscored the importance of locally driven solutions in tackling child immunization challenges.
“Every child deserves access to life-saving vaccinations. The urgent challenges in child immunization require innovative approaches, and the projects by CIHP and HABTech Solutions have demonstrated remarkable potential to deliver impactful change,” he stated.
The innovations will be piloted alongside Save the Children’s vaccination programs in collaboration with GSK in Nigeria and Ethiopia. The ultimate goal is to create a world free from vaccine-preventable diseases, ensuring that every child has access to essential healthcare.