According to UNICEF, better coverage of rural communities and the availability of vaccines in the most remote sections of the state are responsible for the lowering of the zero-dose children burden in Taraba State to 4%.
This accomplishment came about as a result of the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that UNICEF, through the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI), and the Taraba State administration signed.
The health officer for UNICEF at its Bauchi Field office, stated that GAVI’s intervention, which was carried out in conjunction with the Taraba State government, has reinforced healthcare at the community level.
He said that a lot of wonderful things had happened, and Taraba, in his opinion, was a fantastic place to make these kinds of investments.
He stated, “Before GAVI intervention, Taraba had a zero-dose child burden of 24% in the Gassol Local Government Area.
“After two years of investing in vaccination availability, access, and coverage, the zero-dose burden has dropped to 4%. “Routine immunisation coverage and basic health care services have increased dramatically, with fully immunised children rising from 49% in 2022 to 80% now.
“Vaccine availability has also been decentralised, with the state now operating zonal vaccine cold stores in Takum and Gassol LGAs, in addition to the one provided by the state government at the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo.” “The three cold stores are in the three senatorial zones and have made vaccines closer to the people.”
In order to improve vaccine distribution and coverage throughout the state, Olosunde also stated that the state administration had received 156 motorcycles and 3 Hilux cars.
He further noted that the intervention, which has strengthened service delivery, provided governance structures, increased manpower, decentralized vaccine availability, and expanded community engagement, has gulped N1.6 billion in over two years.
Why this matters?
Vaccination is an important preventive measure that protects children from life-threatening diseases. By lowering the zero-dose child burden, more children in Taraba are now safeguarded against illnesses like measles, polio, and diphtheria.
In Essence
By targeting rural communities and remote areas, UNICEF and its partners ensured that vaccines reached populations that were previously underserved.
Providing motorcycles and vehicles improved logistics, enabling health workers to reach more communities efficiently.
