Experts, government officials, and civil society organizations (CSOs) gathered at the Peer Learning and Capacity Building Workshop in Abuja on Monday to strategise on enhancing childhood immunisation programmes in Guinea and South Sudan.
The workshop, organised by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), focused on the Promoting Rotavirus Vaccine and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) for Enhanced Childhood Immunisation and Safety (PRECISE) Project.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the PRECISE project aims to promote the introduction of the life-saving PCV and Rotavirus Vaccine to combat pneumonia and severe diarrhoea, two leading causes of child mortality in Africa.
Through this initiative, VNDC collaborates with CSOs from Guinea and South Sudan to build capacity and foster collaboration with local governments, ensuring successful integration of these vaccines into the countries’ immunisation schedules.
Nigeria, having successfully introduced both vaccines in its national programme, serves as a model for this initiative.
Speaking, Dr Bello Yahaya, a representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said that government played a crucial role in vaccine introduction.
Yahaya said that strategic partnerships with international organisations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, were instrumental to securing necessary funding and technical support for vaccine rollouts.
“Through coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Health, international partners, and CSOs, we have reduced the prevalence of pneumonia and diarrhoea in children under five by over 30 per cent,” he said.
He acknowledged ongoing challenges such as funding gaps and logistical difficulties in remote areas, adding that Nigeria had made significant progress in reducing child mortality through these vaccines.
“CSOs have been the backbone of grassroots mobilisation, advocating for vaccine acceptance and combating misinformation.
“Without their support, our vaccination programmes would not have reached the scale we have today,” he said.
He urged CSOs in Guinea and South Sudan to continue advocating for policy reforms and collaborating with their governments to ensure the successful introduction of the PCV and Rotavirus vaccines.
He also stressed the importance of mutual learning and collaboration between countries, highlighting Nigeria’s complex experiences with health programmes.
He offered to share lessons learned to help Guinea and South Sudan avoid similar challenges, while acknowledging the need to learn from other countries’ successes to improve healthcare outcomes collectively.
Ms. Margaret Soyemi, a Social Behavioral Change Officer at UNICEF, highlighted the critical role of CSOs in reaching communities that the government and formal institutions may not access.
Soyemi said that CSOs, along with community-based organisations (CBOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs), possessed unique strengths crucial for delivering life-saving vaccines and advocacy efforts.
“This partnership with CSOs is essential for achieving broader public health goals, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” she said.
Hon. Usman Mohammed, former Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare, stressed the urgency of mobilising securing adequate financial resources to ensure timely introduction of PCV and Rotavirus vaccines in Guinea and South Sudan.
Mohammed said that pollical will was also required to achieve the feat, while calling on political leaders, health officials and international partners to provide necessary support.
“The stakes are too high for inaction. These vaccines can significantly reduce child mortality, but we need immediate action from our leaders to push this agenda forward,” he said.
He highlighted the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal (PESTEL) factors critical for successful vaccine introduction, noting that strong political will and government commitment were vital for health reforms.
Dr Emmanuel Alhassan, Country Coordinator of Global Health Alvicagy Incubator, said that the introduction of these vaccines represented a broader opportunity to strengthen health systems in Guinea and South Sudan.
Alhassan said that enhancing vaccine coverage through the PRECISE project could lay the foundation for more sustainable health improvements beyond childhood immunisation.
“As the PRECISE Project moves forward, its success will depend on continued collaboration between governments, CSOs, and the international community.
“The lessons learned from Nigeria’s experience will be crucial in ensuring that Guinea and South Sudan can overcome barriers and expand vaccine access, ultimately saving countless lives,” he said.
Prof. Ibrahim Abuye, Chairman of Nigeria’s National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), stressed the importance of CSOs and NGOs in bridging the gap between government policies and grassroots implementation.
Abuye praised CSOs for their active participation in driving decisions and actions to ensure effective health service delivery.
Delegates from Guinea and South Sudan expressed their commitment to implementing lessons learned from Nigeria.
Mr Abdoulaye Djenab Kamara, CEO of Réseau Afrique Jeunesse de Guinée (RAJ-GUI), said that the workshop provided a framework to navigate potential political and logistical challenges.
Kamara said that it would help foster international partnerships for strong community engagement through CSO collaborations.
He stressed the goal of introducing these vaccines in both countries by 2025, hoping to achieve significant reductions in childhood mortality due to pneumonia and diarrhea.
He reiterated the critical message that “vaccines saves lives”, and that collaboration among governments, CSOs, and the media is key to enhancing childhood immunisation across Africa.
Earlier, Mrs Chika Offor, CEO of VNDC, said that during the workshop, CSOs from Guinea and South Sudan began their strategic engagement with their Nigerian counterparts.
Offor said that this collaboration aimed to learn from Nigeria’s successful vaccine rollout and apply these lessons in their own countries.
According to her, the workshop facilitates knowledge sharing, focusing on advocacy, capacity building, and accountability.
“This collaboration is expected to help Guinea and South Sudan overcome unique challenges in introducing critical vaccines like the PCV and Rotavirus vaccine.
“Nigeria’s success with the PCV and Rotavirus vaccines demonstrates what can be achieved with strong political will and a well-supported health system.
“We are here to help replicate this model in Guinea and South Sudan,” she said.
She said that participants from both countries would work closely with Nigerian CSOs to develop actionable plans tailored to their specific needs, addressing political, logistical, and funding challenges.
“Beyond planning, they will explore strategies for engaging political leaders and mobilising community-level support.
“This includes working with faith-based organizations, women’s groups, and youth networks, which are critical for building trust and acceptance within communities,” she added.
She highlighted several strategies essential for accelerating vaccine equity.
She listed the strategies to include using Nigeria’s NITAG as a model to guide counterparts in Guinea and South Sudan in strengthening their own immunisation strategies, and ensuring efficient vaccine delivery.
Recognising the vital role of civil society organisations, she said that the PRECISE Project underscored their involvement in advocacy, community mobilisation, and combating misinformation about vaccines.
“The CSOs will play a pivotal role in creating grassroots demand for vaccines, ensuring that the public understands the life-saving benefits of immunisation,” she remarked.
She encouraged CSOs from Guinea and South Sudan to continue advocating for policy changes and collaborating with their governments to ensure a smooth rollout of the PCV and Rotavirus vaccines.
NAN recalls that pneumonia and rotavirus continue to be major causes of child mortality globally.
Over 700,000 under-five deaths are recorded from pneumonia, and 215,000 deaths from rotavirus annually, particularly in low-income countries like Guinea, Chad, Somalia, and South Sudan.
The PCV and rotavirus vaccines are safe and effective solutions to reduce these deaths.
At the 2nd Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia, stakeholders committed to improving child health and reducing pneumonia deaths under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The PRECISE project advocates for introducing these vaccines, strengthening local CSO capacity, and raising public awareness for broader vaccine adoption.(NAN)
