In Yobe State, low routine immunization (RI) coverage left many under-five children at risk, with only 8.7% receiving the third Penta dose in 2016, well below the national average.
Although this improved to 29% in 2018, state-level interventions weren’t enough. A joint analysis by SCIDaR and the Yobe State Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre revealed the frontline gaps at the LGA and facility levels such as weak coordination, poor data use, and limited management skills.
To address this, the One LGA Approach, a six-month program to build LGA-level capacity was launched in 2022, with Damaturu LGA chosen as the pilot site.
Maisandari Primary Health Centre in Damaturu is one of the largest facilities in the LGA, serving 23 settlements and responsible for vaccinating an annual cohort of 4,044 children.
But before the One LGA Approach, the numbers told a worrying story. Only 16 children were being vaccinated per week, far below the expected 77. This is due to a combination of dropout rates and low patronage.
Musa Shuaibu, the Routine Immunization (RI) focal person at Maisandari PHC for over five years, reflected on how things used to be. He shared that before the One LGA Approach, community engagement was largely absent. With support from SCIDaR and partners, the facility adopted a community-focused model using weekly dialogues, mobile outreaches, and VCM-led advocacy across 23 settlements. Through these engagements, caregivers’ fears like children crying or falling ill after multiple injections were addressed through sensitization and culturally sensitive communication strategies.
Similarly, in the small community served by Mairi Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Damaturu LGA, Yobe State, Voluntary Community Mobilizers (VCMs) Zara Goni and Jamunsu, who have served for 8 and 7 years respectively, became vital agents of change, covering six settlements and going door-to-door to educate mothers, address fears, and encourage participation in RI. Zara recalls how, when they began, residents avoided RI and antenatal care entirely, but their ongoing mobilization and reassurance, especially around common side effects like fever from penta injections and prolonged crying, has led to improved acceptance.
Through the One LGA Approach, health workers at Mairi PHC were empowered to strengthen community engagement. This included weekly defaulter tracking using tickler cards and immunization registers to identify missed doses, which were then followed up by the VCMs.
What began as hesitancy gradually gave way to confidence. Through targeted defaulter tracking, local trust-building, and relentless community engagement, families in Damaturu started showing up no longer with fear, but with determination. By the time the project closed, more children were protected and communities better informed, with outcomes made possible through a collective approach and strong collaboration across all levels.
Download the full report to see how a 6-month LGA-level intervention made immunization history in Damaturu.
