The initiative falls under the larger Better Opportunity for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation for Zero Dose and Under Immunised Children (BOOST) Project — a four-year programme running from 2024 to 2027. Implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and state health ministries in Lagos and Kano, the BOOST Project is set to tackle one of Nigeria’s persistent public health challenges: reaching children who have never received any vaccine.
According to the 2022 World Universal Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) Report, Nigeria is home to roughly 2.3 million “zero-dose” children — accounting for more than a quarter of children under the age of one. That figure placed the country second only to India in global rankings of unvaccinated children, based on UNICEF data from 2021.
In Lagos State specifically, Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) has emerged as a critical hotspot, with more than 35,000 zero-dose children — the highest number recorded in a single LGA in the entire country. Ikorodu LGA is also being targeted under the Lagos implementation of the BOOST Project, while Ungogo and Gezawa LGAs are the focus areas in Kano State.
At a recent one-day engagement workshop in Lagos, Dr. Itunu Dave-Agboola, the Lagos State BOOST project manager and advocacy coordinator, explained that the focus will be on both zero-dose children, who have never received a single vaccine, and under-immunised children, who have started but not completed their vaccination schedules.
Funded by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the BOOST project seeks not only to deliver direct immunisation services but also to strengthen systems around service delivery. A major emphasis is being placed on collaboration with LASAM to promote sustainable healthcare financing, policy formulation, and strengthening of the health workforce in the targeted LGAs.
During the workshop, LASAM subcommittees — focusing on Evidence, Advocacy, and Knowledge Management & Communication (KMC) — gathered to review and finalise advocacy briefs, as well as chart the next steps for effective implementation of the project. These advocacy tools are expected to play a critical role in pushing for supportive policies and attracting the necessary investments to ensure long-term impact.
As Nigeria continues its drive toward universal health coverage and improved child survival rates, projects like BOOST represent a significant stride toward closing immunisation gaps, especially among the most vulnerable.