In Jakusko, Yobe State, caregivers turned out early at vaccination posts as health workers administered life-saving vaccines to children under the shade of trees and in temporary outreach centres. The campaign, led by the Government and supported by partners, aims to protect children against multiple vaccine-preventable diseases through a single coordinated effort.
Health authorities say such campaigns are critical in the northeast, where years of conflict have damaged facilities, reduced the number of trained health workers and forced families to travel long distances to access care. Integrated vaccination drives help bridge these gaps by bringing services directly into communities.
UNICEF, working with federal and state governments and partners, has supported the campaign through the recruitment and training of health workers, vaccine procurement and logistics to reach both urban centres and hard-to-reach areas. According to UNICEF’s Health Manager in Maiduguri, Dr Marie Marcos, the measles and rubella integrated campaign provided an opportunity to deliver several essential interventions at once.
She explained that the initiative served as a one-stop platform for children to receive vaccines against measles, rubella, polio, malaria, diphtheria, tetanus and human papillomavirus, among others. The campaign was supported by partners including Gavi, the Government of Germany through KfW (BMZ), and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund.
Community engagement played a key role in the rollout, with vaccination services delivered through fixed and mobile posts, health facilities, schools and places of worship. Weeks of sensitisation involving traditional and religious leaders helped address misinformation and encourage participation.
For many families, the campaign reinforced the importance of prevention. Mothers like Harira Lawan, a resident of Jakusko, said past experiences with childhood illness had shaped their trust in immunisation, making vaccination a priority despite the challenges of daily life in a conflict-affected area.
Health officials note that while progress has been made in building confidence around vaccines, sustained investment and continued outreach are needed to ensure no child is left unprotected, particularly in fragile settings where routine services remain difficult to access.