Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Eliminating Measles and Rubella by 2030
Nigeria has renewed its commitment to eliminating measles and rubella by 2030, aligning with global health priorities and reinforcing its role as a key driver of disease control across Africa. The country’s ongoing Integrated Measles–Rubella and Polio Vaccination Campaign highlights strong government leadership and collaboration with national and global partners to ensure every eligible child receives life-saving vaccines.
In recent weeks, health workers have crossed rivers, climbed hillsides, and navigated dense settlements to deliver essential immunisation services protecting children from measles, rubella, polio, and other preventable diseases.
A Nationwide Effort Backed by Strong Partnerships
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) led the first phase of the Integrated MR-Polio Campaign with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary, the Gates Foundation, and other partners.
The rollout occurred in two streams:
Stream 1: 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Stream 2: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe
The next phase begins January 2026 across 16 southern states, aiming to protect over 106 million children the largest vaccination effort in Africa and one of the biggest worldwide.
Multiple Health Services in One Visit
The campaign brought key health interventions directly to communities, including:
- Measles–rubella vaccines for children (9 months–14 years)
- Novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) for children under 5
- Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (ages 3–59 months)
- NTD treatments for eligible age groups:
- Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (5+ years)
- Schistosomiasis (5–14 years)
- Trachoma (all ages)
- HPV vaccine for 9-year-old girls
This integrated approach reduced missed opportunities, strengthened health systems, and increased coverage.
Reaching Every Child, Everywhere
More than 27,000 vaccinators and social mobilisers were deployed nationwide.
Examples of tailored outreach:
- Adamawa: Boats ferried vaccines to flood-isolated river communities.
- Kaduna: Temporary vaccination posts were set up in farmlands and transit corridors.
- Borno: Caregivers visited secure temporary posts in IDP camps and high-risk communities.
- Plateau & Taraba: Teams carried cold boxes across steep highland paths.
“We are committed to reaching every settlement in our microplans — no matter how far,” said Abdulmumini Musa, vaccinator, Tafawa Balewa LGA, Bauchi.
Impact — Early Results
As of 30 October 2025, streams 1 and 2 achieved:
Intervention Number Reached
Children vaccinated against measles & rubella 58.9 million+
Children protected against variant poliovirus (nOPV2) 38.5 million+
Individuals reached with malaria & NTD services 2.5 million+
9-year-old girls receiving HPV vaccine 675,000+
Children receiving Penta-1 1.4 million+
Previously unvaccinated children receiving Penta-3 3.3 million+
These figures are undergoing verification through post-campaign assessments to ensure quality and coverage.
“When my neighbours’ children fell ill, mine stayed healthy because he was vaccinated,” shared Ikima Salisu, mother of five, Bauchi State.
Government and Community Leadership at Every Level
State leaders guided local implementation, while:
- Ward development committees
- Community health volunteers
- Religious and traditional leaders
- Parent-teacher and youth associations
- all supported mobilisation and trust-building.
“Every child deserves protection,” said Dr. Sufyan Ahmad, Incident Manager, Bauchi State. “We are conducting mop-ups to ensure no child is missed.”
Overcoming Challenges Through Adaptation
Challenge Response
Hard-to-reach, riverine, and security-affected areas Boat & motorcycle teams, flexible microplans, extended mop-up days, community-led escorts
High mobility in urban areas Outreach at schools, markets, transit hubs
Rumours and vaccine hesitancy Engagement of trusted traditional, religious, youth, and community advocates
These strategies improved equity and strengthened primary health care delivery.
WHO Support Strengthens Campaign Quality
WHO provided:
- Technical planning and partner coordination
- Capacity building and microplanning support
- Settlement verification and real-time monitoring
- Deployment of field experts at state, LGA, and ward levels
- Logistics and operational assistance
- “Nigeria’s progress reflects strong leadership and effective collaboration,” said Dr. Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative in Nigeria.
Looking Ahead
- As mop-up activities continue, Nigeria and partners are focused on:
- Achieving measles–rubella elimination by 2030
- Maintaining polio-free status and stopping cVPV2 transmission
- Strengthening primary health care service delivery
- Ensuring every child is protected
- Every child counts — and every vaccination brings Nigeria closer to a healthier future.