FIC Report (Lagos State) – The Lagos State Government has joined forces with Save the Children International (SCI) to unveil a groundbreaking immunisation initia¬tive, titled, BOOST Project. The aim of this project is to address the critical issue of zero-dose children that have not received any vaccinations.
This programme is known as the Bet¬ter Opportunity for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation for Zero Dose and Under Immunised Children (BOOST Project). It is aimed to significantly increase vaccination rates among vulnerable pop¬ulations in the region.
The four-year programme, 2024–2027, funded by GSK, is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and state health ministries in Lagos and Kano. It is specifically designed to identify and immunise zero-dose and under-im¬munised children, who either have not re¬ceived any vaccine or have not completed their immunisation schedules.
According to the 2022 World Universal Immunization Coverage Report (WUEN¬IC), Nigeria is home to approximately 2.3 million zero-dose children, 26.5 per cent of children under age one,Lagos State’s Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) report¬edly had the highest number of zero-dose children in Nigeria, with over 35,000 un¬vaccinated.
The BOOST project in Lagos will focus on two high-burden Local Government Areas which are Alimosho and Ikorodu.
Speaking at a one-day stakeholders’ en¬gagement workshop in Lagos, Lagos State Project Manager and Advocacy Coordina¬tor for BOOST, Dr Itunu Dave-Agboola, explained that the purpose of this initiative is to create a sustainable environment for immunisa¬tion through strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
Dave-Agboola noted that SCI will work closely with the Lagos State Accountabil¬ity Mechanism (LASAM) for Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, Health and Nutrition to build sustainable structures that promote immunisation access and reduce preventable child deaths.
The workshop brought together LA¬SAM subcommittees on Evidence, Ad¬vocacy, and Knowledge Management & Communication (KMC) to finalise advo¬cacy briefs and determine the next steps for the project’s implementation.
She also emphasised on the role of the media in driving awareness and public support.
The BOOST Project underscores a re¬newed commitment by SCI and the Lagos State Government to eradicate vaccine inequity and ensure that no child is left behind.
Signed
ORIBHABOR ANDREA.A.
PI&PRO).
23rd April,2025.
