Standing before a quiet room in Benin City, Mrs. Ann Obehi Ojugo, a polio survivor, moved slowly to the podium. Her presence alone spoke volumes, but it was her voice that commanded the room as she made an emotional plea to parents and health officials.
“I was just a child when I fell sick,” Ojugo said. “My parents did not know about immunization. By the time help came, it was too late. I have lived with this ever since. Please, do not let another child go through this.”
Her warning spotlights a critical healthcare gap in Edo State, where thousands of “zero-dose” children infants who have never received a single routine vaccine remain highly vulnerable to preventable, life-threatening diseases.
The Hidden Crisis of Edo’s Unvaccinated Children
Prior to African Vaccination Week, a deep dive into state immunization data revealed a startling reality. In several communities across Edo State, up to 76% of children had completely missed out on routine vaccines, according to 2026 DHIS2 data.
In the Orhionmwon local government area, only one in four children had completed their pentavalent vaccine series, which guards against five deadly childhood diseases. Across multiple local government areas, more than half of eligible children had not received even their very first dose.
These alarming gaps are driven by geographical and informational barriers. Many families live in riverine areas far from health centers, while others lack basic information about vaccine safety and schedules, leaving entire communities cut off from life-saving healthcare.
A Data-Driven Rescue Mission
In response, the Edo State Government, through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, launched a targeted campaign to track down and immunize missed children.
Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, and John Snow, Inc. (JSI), healthcare teams used localized data to pinpoint low-coverage zones. WHO provided critical technical support, helping to train frontline workers, map out hard-to-reach settlements, and strengthen local disease surveillance.
“Data helped us find the children,” said Dr. Nora Eyo, the WHO State Coordinator for Edo State. “But listening to people helped us reach them.”
By deploying mobile clinics and home-to-home vaccinators, health workers managed to bridge the trust gap with skeptical or remote families.
Overcoming Hesitancy on the Frontlines
For mothers like Mrs. Honour Madumere, who lives in a remote riverine community, the outreach team was a lifeline. She had delayed vaccinating her one-year-old child due to the grueling distance to the nearest health center and a lack of clear information.
“The health centre is far, and I did not fully understand why there were so many vaccines,” Madumere admitted. “Now I understand. I feel at peace knowing my child is protected.”
Vaccinators on the ground witnessed this shift in real-time, though they acknowledge the scale of the remaining challenge.
“We met children who had never received a single dose,” said Mary Efosa, a frontline vaccinator. “It shows there is still work to do. But it also shows this approach works.”
Record-Breaking Turnout During African Vaccination Week
The targeted campaign yielded massive results during African Vaccination Week. Outreach teams successfully vaccinated 3,801 infants aged 0–11 months and 789 children aged 12–23 months in previously underserved communities.
Additionally, 297 children completed their third pentavalent dose, and health teams integrated broader medical services—administering Vitamin A to over 700 children, conducting malnutrition screenings, and vaccinating 239 girls against HPV. Officials reported zero serious adverse events during the drive.
Dr. Efeomon Eseigbe, Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, confirmed that the campaign successfully penetrated more than 1,000 communities across 42 wards through mobile health camps.
“More children now have access to life-saving vaccines,” Dr. Eseigbe said. “We were able to reach communities that had been left behind.”
The Road to Immunization Agenda 2030
Despite these gains, the battle is far from over. Nationwide, roughly 33% of Nigerian children fail to complete their routine immunizations, leaving them exposed to measles, diphtheria, and polio.
Reaching these zero-dose children is a central pillar of Nigeria’s national health strategy and the global Immunization Agenda 2030, which aims to ensure every child is protected, regardless of where they live.
In Edo State, 33 wards remain unreached. However, health authorities are already planning new outreach sessions targeting more than 4,347 settlements across the state.
For survivors like Mrs. Ojugo, the mission will not be complete until every community is reached.
“Every child deserves that chance,” she said.
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