By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — The Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) has commended Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for approving nearly $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme and primary healthcare system over the next five years.
The Chief Executive Officer of VNDC, Mrs. Chika Offor, said in a statement on Saturday that the funding would accelerate efforts to reduce the number of zero-dose children and expand equitable access to life-saving vaccines across the country.
Offor explained that the support, approved under Gavi’s 6.0 programme for 2026–2030, would enhance routine immunisation, expand Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, sustain polio eradication, and improve vaccine financing.
She described the predictable five-year funding framework as a major milestone that would strengthen planning, vaccine procurement, cold-chain systems, and service delivery nationwide.
“The approval of nearly $500 million for Nigeria demonstrates Gavi’s confidence in our health system and provides a strong foundation for expanding equitable access to vaccines, particularly in underserved communities,” she said.
Offor, who joined Gavi Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sania Nishtar, during a visit to the Gavi-supported Apo Primary Health Care Centre in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), emphasised the critical role of communities in reducing the number of zero-dose children.
According to her, achieving universal immunisation goes beyond vaccine availability, stressing that effective community systems are essential for identifying, referring, tracking, and following up eligible children.
She noted that the visit highlighted Gavi’s recognition of communities as indispensable partners in improving immunisation coverage and strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots.
Offor added that traditional and religious leaders, Ward Development Committee members, women groups, and frontline health workers had expressed appreciation for Gavi’s support, particularly in solarising the health facility.
She said the provision of reliable electricity had improved vaccine storage, preserved the cold chain, and enhanced service delivery to mothers and children.
The VNDC boss also underscored the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in mobilising communities, building trust, countering misinformation, and supporting last-mile delivery of immunisation services.
The statement also quoted the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, as describing Gavi and other development partners as critical to improving access to quality primary healthcare in Nigeria.
“We remain very appreciative of the partnership that we have with Gavi and many of our development partners as we strive to improve access to quality basic health services for all Nigerians,” Aina said.
He described the Apo Primary Health Care Centre as a model of successful collaboration among the Federal Government, local government, and development partners.
According to him, while the local government built and operates the facility, the Federal Government supports it through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and Gavi provides vaccine commodities and funded its solarisation.
“The partnership has strengthened health infrastructure, improved vaccine storage and delivery, and created a sustainable model that should be replicated across the country,” he said.
Aina urged state and local governments to increase investments in primary healthcare and adopt similar partnership models to improve service delivery.
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of zero-dose children globally, with an estimated 2.2 million children yet to receive a single dose of routine vaccines.
These children are largely found in underserved, conflict-affected, and hard-to-reach communities, where weak health infrastructure, insecurity, poverty, and misinformation continue to hinder immunisation efforts.
To address these challenges, the NPHCDA has intensified collaboration with Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners to expand routine immunisation, strengthen cold-chain systems, upgrade primary healthcare facilities, and build the capacity of frontline health workers.
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The partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), aimed at revitalising primary healthcare, improving immunisation coverage, and ensuring that every eligible child receives life-saving vaccines.
The Gavi 6.0 funding package will support routine immunisation, primary healthcare strengthening, vaccine financing, polio eradication, and HPV vaccine expansion in Nigeria between 2026 and 2030.
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