The Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and funding from the Republic of Korea, has commenced an eight-month project to reduce zero-dose immunisation cases across the state.

The Executive Chairman of the Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this during a one-day orientation for state officials and local government primary healthcare directors held in Bauchi.

He explained that the project is designed to strengthen the uptake of routine immunisation in targeted areas, adding that strategies have been developed to mobilise caregivers and improve access to immunisation services.

According to him, the initiative will deploy multiple service delivery platforms to reach children who have not received any vaccines.

“The project is designed to reduce immunisation zero-dose cases in the state. It will develop strategies to enhance uptake through nutritional platforms, antenatal care clinics, and routine immunisation services, among others,” he said.

Mohammed emphasised that immunisation remains critical to reducing childhood diseases and mortality, noting that unimmunised children are more vulnerable to communicable diseases.

“If children are not immunised and they get infected with communicable diseases, they are more likely to die,” he added.

Also speaking, the Health Manager for Immunisation in Nigeria, Mr Kabir Sheikh, said the project would strengthen key components of immunisation delivery.

He listed these to include improved logistics, vaccine availability, defaulters’ tracking, and enhanced community awareness.

Sheikh further noted that the project would be implemented in Dambam, Jama’are, and Warji local government areas of the state.

Bauchi launches eight-month project to reduce immunisation zero-dose cases