“We felt forgotten,” said Mama Balkis Babangida, a mother in the settlement. “But today, we are happy you came. Our children can finally be taken care of.” Her words echo the experiences of countless nomadic families across Nigeria who face barriers to routine immunization, leaving children vulnerable to measles and rubella—highly contagious diseases that continue to spark outbreaks nationwide. In 2025 alone, Nigeria reported 27,433 suspected measles cases, with 19,225 confirmed and 153 deaths.
The urgency to reach these children aligns with Nigeria’s Primary Health Care (PHC) revitalization agenda, the National Measles-Rubella Elimination Strategy, and the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). It also mirrors the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global focus on equity, reducing zero-dose children, and strengthening primary health systems.
A Campaign to Reach Every Child
During the 2025–2026 Measles-Rubella (MR) integrated campaign, the Osun State Primary Health Care Board, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, AFENET, and community leaders joined forces to reach settlements that routine health services rarely touch.
Teams traveled by road and on foot, carrying vaccine carriers, cold-chain equipment, and educational materials to engage families about the importance of immunization. Their goal was straightforward: locate children who had missed routine vaccines and ensure no child was left behind. For many families, this marked the first time health workers had come directly to them.
Fear, Not Refusal
Halima Aliyu, a young mother, held her 12-month-old son as she spoke with the health team. “I tried to take him for immunization once, but I was afraid they would reject me in the neighboring village,” she admitted. “That fear made me stop trying.” Her son was among two zero-dose children vaccinated that day.
Jubril Aminu, a father in Abba Modakeke, shared a similar experience. “We move often. Sometimes we don’t know where to go for vaccines. When the team came here, it made everything easier.” Youth leader Mamuda Aliyu added, “When health workers come to us, people listen. It builds trust.”
Building Trust Through Conversation
Reaching the settlement was only the beginning. The health team spent hours engaging with families, answering questions, and explaining how vaccines protect children from measles and rubella. Many parents had avoided health facilities out of fear of rejection or misunderstanding the services available.
The outreach occurred on the ninth day of the MR integrated campaign, February 4, 2026. According to Alhaja Oredeko, Local Immunization Officer for Egbedore LGA, closing this gap requires more than just vaccines. “Government primary health care facilities are open and free. Health workers are ready to provide routine immunization and other services. No one should feel excluded.” The community was subsequently linked to the nearest primary health care post to ensure continued access.
Immediate Results and Broader Impact
By the end of the outreach, all 22 children aged 9 months to 14 years in the settlement received the MR vaccine, including the two zero-dose toddlers. For a small community, the impact was immediate. Across Osun State, 30 WHO Local Government Area Facilitators and 352 Field Volunteers are supporting the MR campaign across 30 LGAs and 332 wards. Funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, their work focuses on improving micro-planning, strengthening supervision, and ensuring vaccines reach children in remote and mobile communities.
“This work supports Nigeria’s goal of reducing zero-dose children and preventing measles outbreaks,” said Dr. Ojediran Oluwatoyin Joke, WHO State Coordinator in Osun. “Every child deserves access to essential vaccines, no matter where they live.” Mrs. OluTope Shadare, NPHCDA State Coordinator, added, “Mobile outreach and community engagement help us reach children who would otherwise be missed.”
Expected outcomes include reaching every child in these hard-to-reach settlements, lowering outbreak risk, and building long-term community confidence in routine immunization.
Restoring Confidence, Strengthening Systems
For families like Mama Balkis’ and Halima’s, the visit brought more than vaccines—it restored trust in a system they once felt invisible to. For health workers and partners, it reinforced a fundamental truth: reaching the unreached is possible when communities are placed at the center.
Osun State’s experience shows that no settlement is too remote and no child too far to protect from vaccine-preventable diseases.
A Call to Action
Communities are encouraged to:
- Continue engaging with local health workers
- Visit their nearest PHC facility for routine immunization services available year-round
- Support efforts to reach zero-dose children in every settlement
The campaign underscores a simple but powerful message: when health systems meet families where they are, no child is left behind.