The authority of the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency has disclosed that the state recorded a 700 per cent increase in immunisation uptake from 7 per cent in 2016 to 49 per cent in 2024.
The Director of PHC, Dr Shehu Sambo, disclosed this during a two-day media dialogue and field trip on
strengthening primary healthcare systems in Dutse, also said the creation of the primary healthcare agency coincided with the conduct of a survey in 2016 and only 7 per cent of the state’s eligible children were immunised as of then.
Sambo, however, said the state’s engagements and robustness of activities in primary health care agency, Jigawa were able to have immunisation coverage of 700 per cent increase, that is 7 fold increase of 49 per cent.
“What that means is that more children have been reached and prevented from contracting vaccine preventable diseases and they survive more and their nutritional status would be better, IQ and capacity to learn in school would also improve.”
The improved coverage was attributed to various strategies such as intensive training for healthcare workers, better data management, and focused outreach programs in remote areas. The support from GAVI and UNICEF has played a crucial role in expanding these efforts.
“The positive impact of the increased immunisation coverage was emphasized, with benefits including improved nutritional status, better educational outcomes, and higher survival rates among children. Dr. Ibrahim noted that healthier children are not only better learners but also valuable contributors to their communities.”
He explained that the Primary Healthcare Center Strengthening program was funded by Gavi and implemented by UNICEF.
“This was as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2022 between the Jigawa State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Governors Forum, GAVI, and UNICEF to improve routine immunization and primary healthcare systems and reduce loss of life, particularly among women and children.”
Sambo explained that the funding from Gavi gave the state more funding to be able to engage midwives, train frontline healthcare workers to be able to deliver the needed services to all the hard to reach areas across Jigawa State.
Sambo said, “It also assisted us in organising training for improved data entry and transmission, demand generation, recruitment of health ambassadors known as jakadar lafiya and others.”
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