Without adequate vaccination, a large percentage of under-5 children are susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases and ensuing mortality. In Yobe State, poor immunization coverage is a major public health concern. In 2013, only 11% were immunized with Penta 3 (NDHS 2013). Even fewer children (8.7%) had the Penta 3rd dose in 2016 (2016/17 MICS). However, by 2018, the figure had increased to 29%, which is still far o from the national average.   A variety of issues plagued the health system in the state, including inadequate funding, suboptimal coordination and accountability and weak capacity of managers. Routine immunization was particularly plagued by systemic inefficiencies in the supply chain, data management, and conduct of immunization service by health workers; against the backdrop of poor community awareness and weak motivation to demand vaccines.   In 2015, the Yobe immunization landscape was significantly reduced when the state government signed an MoU with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) to collaboratively contribute monies into a basket account to fund the state’s RI program and garner high-level political participation in immunization activities. These critical inputs were complemented by high-quality technical and management support from partners to the Yobe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (YSPHCDA).   Since then, the state began to achieve sustained progress in immunization performance such that by 2018, Yobe State was named the most improved state in RI coverage in the country after reaching 29% RI coverage compared to just 9.7% two years prior. However, the needle wasn’t moving fast enough as a large percentage of children were still without coverage against vaccine-preventable diseases.   Read more