“We felt forgotten,” said Mama Balkis Babangida. “But today, we are happy you came. Our children can finally be taken care of.”
Her experience reflects the barriers faced by nomadic and remote communities across Nigeria, where routine immunization often fails to reach. In 2025, Nigeria recorded 27,433 suspected measles cases, of which 19,225 were confirmed, with 153 deaths nationwide. Reaching children in such settlements is a priority under Nigeria’s Primary Health Care revitalization agenda, the National Measles-Rubella Elimination Strategy, and the Immunization Agenda 2030, aligning with the World Health Organization’s focus on equity and zero-dose reduction.
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 local leaders collaborated to reach settlements often missed by routine services. Health workers traveled by road and on foot, carrying vaccine carriers, cold-chain equipment, and educational materials to ensure children who had missed vaccines were immunized.
For many families, this was their first direct contact with health professionals.
Halima Aliyu, a young mother, explained her hesitation to seek vaccines: “I tried to take my son once, but I was afraid they would reject me in the neighbouring village. That fear made me stop trying.” Her 12-month-old son was one of two zero-dose children vaccinated during the visit.
Similarly, community leader Jubril Aminu said, “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 and Understanding
The outreach was more than administering vaccines; it was about dialogue and education. Families were informed about how immunization protects children from measles and rubella, addressing fears and misconceptions that had previously kept them away from health facilities.
Alhaja Oredeko, Local Immunization Officer for Egbedore LGA, noted: “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 for ongoing services.
Results and Early Impact
By the end of the outreach, all 22 children aged 9 months to 14 years in the settlement — including two zero-dose toddlers — received the MR vaccine.
Across Osun State, 30 WHO Local Government Area Facilitators and 352 Field Volunteers are supporting the MR campaign in 30 LGAs and 332 wards. Funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the initiative strengthens micro-planning, supervision, and vaccine delivery to remote and mobile populations.
“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, emphasized that mobile outreach combined with community engagement ensures children who would otherwise be missed are protected.
Expected outcomes include reaching all children in target communities, reducing outbreak risks, and enhancing trust in routine immunization programs.
Restoring Confidence, Strengthening Systems
For families like Mama Balkis’ and Halima’s, the visit brought more than vaccines — it restored faith in a system that once felt invisible. For health workers and partners, the effort reinforced a vital truth: with community-centred strategies, no settlement is too remote, and no child too far away to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Call to Action
Communities are encouraged to:
- Continue engaging with local health workers.
- Visit the nearest PHC facility for routine immunization services available year-round.
- Support initiatives aimed at reaching zero-dose children in every settlement.
The Osun experience demonstrates that proactive outreach and trust-building can bridge long-standing gaps in immunization coverage, protecting children and strengthening primary health care systems nationwide.