By Jerome Kalu |
Save the Children International (SCI), in partnership with GSK, has commenced orientation for advocates under the BOOST Project — Better Opportunities for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation for Zero Dose and Under-Immunised Children — to drive domestic resource mobilisation for routine immunisation in Lagos State.
The project is currently focused on Alimosho and Ikorodu LGAs in Lagos, and Ungogo and Gezawa LGAs in Kano State. Findings from a Household Enumeration conducted by Save the Children International (2025) show the scale of the challenge: in Ikorodu, out of 37,931 children enumerated, 4,551 (12%) were zero-dose and 3,792 (10%) under-immunised; in Alimosho, out of 37,752 children, 4,530 (12%) were zero-dose and 3,395 (9%) under-immunised. Both LGAs have wards without primary health centres, limiting access to vaccination.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Itunu Dave-Agboola, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for the BOOST Immunisation Project at SCI, said the “orientation was to equip advocates on the use of advocacy briefs — documents outlining progress made in routine immunisation, current challenges and the way forward, especially domestic resource mobilisation.”
“The key takeaway is for advocates to understand what the BOOST Project is about — improving routine immunisation, reducing zero-dose children — and how to use advocacy briefs to engage targeted stakeholders, conduct effective advocacy, follow up on commitments and ensure adequate resources for routine immunisation,” Dr Dave-Agboola explained.
She stressed that the core demand is improved domestic resource mobilisation, particularly funding, as donor funds continue to shrink. “We need to learn how to stand on our feet and ensure sustainability even if donor funds disappear completely,” she said. “Beyond funding, we also need human resources, materials, logistics, cold chain, transport systems to reach the grassroots and hard-to-reach areas, and more health care facilities. Presently in Lagos, some wards still do not have health facilities attached to them.”
According to Dr Dave-Agboola, Alimosho and Ikorodu were selected because of their population size and service gaps. Alimosho, the largest LGA in Lagos with six LCDAs, and Ikorodu, another densely populated LGA, have stretched health resources and several wards without primary health centres. “In such wards, some mothers may not take their children for vaccination because of distance and lack of nearby facilities, and that is why we are promoting outreach activities for routine immunisation,” she said.
Dr Dave-Agboola noted that no fixed budget can be projected for the project “because of the large number of children, maintaining the cold chain, paying human resources etc, which involves a lot of calculations. We just need as many donations as possible.” The next step, she said, is for advocates to engage targeted stakeholders to secure commitments towards improved domestic resource mobilisation — in funding, human resources, materials, and more primary health care facilities.
Citing the Abuja Declaration, she urged Lagos State to commit to allocating 15% of its budget to health, as agreed by heads of state. “If the state can be committed to that 15% and ensure it is allocated, released and effectively utilised, it would go a long way. If it is allocated, released and used, we would know if it is sufficient or not. But when it is not allocated, we won’t even know how far it can go,” she said.
She warned of dire consequences if resources are not secured amid shrinking donor funds: “We may find ourselves in a situation where vaccines will not even be available. The implication would be tragic — increase in mortality rate among under-5 children, increase in deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
The goal of the advocacy, she stated, is equitable access to vaccines, with objectives to ensure all children are immunised and to secure increased, consistent allocation and timely release of funds for immunisation programmes.
Participants at the orientation included Dr Akipelu Adetola, Lagos State Immunisation Programme Coordinator for the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB); Mr. Basit Baruwa, Chairman of the Evidence Base Sub-Committee; PHSAI Executive Director, Mr Abiodun Ajayi; PHSAI Chairman, Barrister Ayo Adebusoye ; and Madam Oroja-Giwa Abiodun, a volunteer since 1990, who lamented lack of government support for volunteers. Members of the media were also present to amplify the demands.
Meanwhile, Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic hub with an under-five population of over 3.5 million, performs above the national average in immunisation (44% fully vaccinated vs 20% nationally) and under-five mortality (46 vs 110 per 1,000 live births), but still falls short of SDG targets of 84% coverage and 25 deaths per 1,000 births. Vaccination is a major component of the PHC minimum service package, coordinated by the LSPHCB through a tripodal governance structure.
However, budgetary allocations remain low: Lagos State allocates about 7% of its budget to health (against the 15% Abuja target), with only about 1% of the health budget going to vaccination. Alimosho allocates 3% to health and 2% to vaccination; Ikorodu allocates about 1% to health. With Nigeria preparing for Gavi exit and donor funding dwindling, stakeholders say increased domestic funding, expanded PHC facilities and addressing systemic challenges are critical to prevent disease outbreaks and ensure child survival.
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