Maternal and Child Survival Program Nigeria - Routine Immunization Quarterly Report

Agency for International Development (USAID) cooperative agreement aimed at introducing and supporting high-impact health interventions in 25 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. MCSP has launched multiple activities in Nigeria, including a routine immunization (RI) technical assistance program in Bauchi and Sokoto States. The program aims to increase and sustain RI coverage and reduce childhood illness and death. MCSP/Nigeria RI's program objectives are to support state-led and -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. The program has been supporting implementation of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency's (BSPHCDA's) quadripartite RI-strengthening memorandum of understanding (MOU) since January 2015, and of the Sokoto SPHCDA's quadripartite RI-strengthening MOU since October 2015. The program has been tasked by each state's SPHCDA, and by the three remaining MOU signatories—USAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and the Dangote Foundation—to provide four areas of technical assistance: 1) monitoring and use of data; 2) supportive supervision (SS); 3) community partnership; and 4) capacity building and training. In the third quarter of Program Year 4 (PY4), MCSP provided technical assistance to the state and LGA PHC team in coordinating RI-related meetings with little or no support from donors/external partners. Tasks such as data entry into DHIS 2, meeting note development, and development of supervisory plans were completed with little supervision by the responsible state officers. RI activities of SERICC and working groups are now fully documented in a standard format template for ease of access and use by all stakeholders. MCSP also supported the state in advocating for RI daily sessions at secondary HFs across the state, resulting in 26 of the 27 secondary HFs now offering RI daily sessions. The remaining HFs is expected to commence in the following quarter. In line with the state's objectives of improving immunization uptake in the urban areas, MCSP supported an Urban Slums assessment at Dawaki, Shingen Abba, TudunWadanDaniya & AnguwanNgas Ward in Bauchi LGA. MCSP has continued supporting LGAs in tracking and reporting faulty cold chain equipment (CCEs) in the satellite and primary HFs. The program has also ensured timely release of RI funds to improve frequency of outreach services and supportive supervision visits, with 94% of all 1,029 HFs offering RI services receiving their RI funds during the reporting period. MCSP followed up with the LGAs and HFs that offer RI services to ensure timely retirement of RI funds utilized in the previous quarter. The program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, with notable achievements including the documentation of RI activities in a standard format template, the timely release of RI funds, and the improvement of immunization uptake in the urban areas. However, challenges and opportunities remain, and the program will continue to work towards achieving its objectives and improving the health outcomes of mothers and children in Nigeria.