Bauchi State on Thursday commenced activities for the annual African Vaccination Week (AVW), aimed at complementing the government’s efforts to increase immunization uptake among eligible children under five (U-5).
The 2025 AVW, themed “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible,” is being implemented by the Bauchi State Field Office of the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Development Board (BSPHCDB) and other partners, including civil society organizations (CSOs), Community Resource Groups, and various implementing partners (IPs) working in the state.
Dr. Yarima Kucici, WHO’s Bauchi Field Office representative, during a brief flag-off ceremony at the Bayan Fada Primary Health Care Centre on Thursday, stated that this year’s AVW would focus on five local government areas—Alkaleri, Bauchi, Darazo, Ganjuwa, and Darazo—which have a high prevalence of zero-dose children.
Dr. Kucici said immunization outreach services would be carried out in underserved communities within the five identified LGAs.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs supporting the AVW activities, Dr. Adachi Ekeh of Nigeria Health Watch said the organization would work alongside other CSOs to address non-compliance issues and mobilize caregivers to allow eligible children to receive vaccinations.
Providing further insight into the AVW, the Incident Manager (IM) of the State Polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Dr. Sufyan Ahmad Jibrin, called on community and religious leaders to support the success of the initiative.
