Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) Nigeria ~ Routine Immunization Program Year 2 Annual Report

Agency for International Development (USAID) cooperative agreement aimed at introducing and supporting high-impact health interventions in 24 priority countries, including Nigeria. The program's ultimate goal is to end preventable maternal and child deaths within a generation. MCSP engages governments, policymakers, private sector leaders, health care providers, civil society, faith-based organizations, and communities in adopting and accelerating proven approaches to address major causes of maternal, newborn, and child mortality. In Nigeria, MCSP has launched multiple activities, including a routine immunization (RI) technical assistance program in Bauchi and Sokoto States. The program aims to strengthen the RI system to increase and sustain immunization coverage and reduce childhood illness and death. MCSP/Nigeria provides strategic technical support at the national level and at scale across all of Bauchi state's 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Sokoto's 23 LGAs. The program objectives are to support State-led and State-owned efforts to achieve >80% RI coverage in every ward of Bauchi State by the end of December 2017, and in Sokoto State by the end of December 2018. Additionally, the program aims to expand the availability and quality of RI services by providing technical assistance in the areas of capacity building and training, supportive supervision, monitoring and use of data, supply/cold chain, and community engagement. MCSP/Nigeria RI has been supporting implementation of the Bauchi SPHCDA's quadripartite RI strengthening memorandum of understanding (MOU) since January 2015, and the Sokoto SPHCDA's quadripartite RI strengthening MOU since October 2015. The program provides technical assistance to each respective SPHCDA in the following four areas: monitoring and use of data, supportive supervision, community partnership, and capacity building and training. This report covers the period from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016, or Program Year 2 (PY2) of MCSP globally. The report provides a summary of program achievements, challenges, opportunities, and priorities and recommendations for the following year. Key achievements during PY2 include the strengthening of the RI system, the expansion of RI services, and the promotion of community engagement. The program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, with notable achievements including the strengthening of the RI system, the expansion of RI services, and the promotion of community engagement. The program has also faced challenges, including the need for improved capacity building and training, and the need for increased community engagement. The program's priorities for the next quarter include the continued strengthening of the RI system, the expansion of RI services, and the promotion of community engagement. The program also plans to address the challenges faced during PY2, including the need for improved capacity building and training, and the need for increased community engagement. The program's sustainability is ensured through the transition of all responsibility for sustaining and building on the gains to Bauchi State by January 2018, and to Sokoto State by January 2019. The program's management is overseen by the Activity Manager, Dr. Yakubu Joel Cherima, and the National Immunization Technical Advisor, Dr. Femi Oyewole. The program has received support from various stakeholders, including USAID, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Dangote Foundation, and the SPHCDA. The program's success is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the stakeholders, including the governments of Bauchi and Sokoto States, the SPHCDA, and the local communities. Overall, the MCSP/Nigeria RI program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, and the program's sustainability is ensured through the transition of all responsibility for sustaining and building on the gains to Bauchi State by January 2018, and to Sokoto State by January 2019.