By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna The Kaduna State Government, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has carried out
By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has carried out a special zero-dose immunization outreach in Kwarau Village, Igabi Local Government Area, bringing life-saving health services closer to underserved communities.
Village Head of Kwarau, Alhaji Umaru Rufa’i, expressed gratitude to UNICEF and the state government for the intervention, noting that his community always embraces medical services that improve the lives of residents.
He explained that despite persistent health challenges, support from development partners helps mobilize people to take part in such exercises.
“We are open to any form of development as long as it benefits our people,” he said, adding that he wished the outreach could last longer so neighboring villages might also benefit.
Anne Carlson, Deputy Coordinator, UNICEF New York, who led the UNICEF team, described the outreach as a “one-stop point” for families to access multiple services.
“Alongside nutrition screening for young children, we are providing immunization, health care for mothers and children, and birth registration.
“It is vital these services continue, and we thank our dedicated workers for making them possible,” she said.
Dr. Gerida Birukila, Chief of Office for UNICEF Kaduna, emphasized the importance of reaching hard-to-reach communities such as Nkwari Nini in Igabi, where residents often travel over 10 kilometers to access health facilities.
“With mobile outreaches, we are bringing care closer—malnutrition treatment, immunization, malaria care, and antenatal services for pregnant women. This is helping increase uptake and ensuring children do not miss out on life-saving protection,” she explained.
For Aisha Idris, Local Immunization Officer in Igabi LGA, the outreach was an opportunity to deliver essential services directly to zero-dose children in Kwarau gari, a hard-to-reach settlement.
“We provided albendazole, paracetamol, RUTF for malnourished children, and iron for pregnant women, alongside vaccines for children aged zero to 11 months. The turnout has been good, and many families received both treatment and preventive care,” she noted.
The outreach forms part of ongoing efforts to reduce the number of unimmunized children in Kaduna State, ensuring that families in remote areas are not left behind in accessing critical health and nutrition services.
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