AFENET Nigeria’s Key Health Initiatives: Strengthening Immunization and Community Health Engagement

AFENET Nigeria has been at the forefront of various public health initiatives across the country, focusing on measles outbreak response, community health engagement, digital innovations in immunization, and ongoing outbreak responses. Below are highlights of recent impactful activities carried out by AFENET Nigeria in partnership with key stakeholders.

1. Measles Outbreak Response (MOBR) Capacity-Building Training in Borno State

From January 14th to 16th, 2025, AFENET Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), conducted a training session in Borno State to strengthen local responses to measles outbreaks. This training engaged 226 participants from State and Local Government Areas (LGAs), as well as partner organizations, equipping them with essential skills to identify and investigate measles outbreaks.

The overarching goal of this capacity-building project is to enhance the ability of local, state, and national teams to respond quickly and effectively to measles outbreaks, stopping transmission, minimizing the severity of the disease in affected children, and using the gathered data to improve Nigeria’s immunization systems.

2. Community Engagement for Influential Persons in Zamfara State

From January 20th to 24th, 2025, AFENET Nigeria implemented a comprehensive community engagement initiative across 62 wards in 6 LGAs in Zamfara State. With technical and financial support from the US CDC, this program aimed to address the low participation rates in immunization programs by engaging influential community leaders—such as traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other local figures.

Through sensitization meetings, AFENET Nigeria worked to build trust in government health initiatives and raise awareness of essential health practices. By empowering influential figures to champion health campaigns, the initiative sought to increase participation in immunization programs and combat vaccine hesitancy. The engagement included monthly community dialogues aimed at shifting attitudes, generating demand for immunization, and improving overall health-seeking behaviors, leading to better health outcomes for the community.

3. Webinar on Digital Innovations in Immunization Delivery

On January 22, 2025, AFENET Nigeria hosted a webinar titled AFENET-NSTOP Digital Innovations in Immunization Delivery, which attracted over 200 participants from various countries. The session highlighted two groundbreaking digital solutions designed to optimize immunization programs in Nigeria.

The first speaker discussed how the EMIDAS platform is enhancing immunization uptake in Nigeria’s Consequential Geography (CG) project, specifically in Zamfara State. The second speaker presented on the use of digital tools such as eMAVDER, which tracks malaria vaccine uptake and ensures follow-up vaccinations in Bayelsa and Kebbi states. These digital innovations are paving the way for more efficient vaccine tracking, registration, and monitoring, ultimately helping to improve immunization coverage.

4. Polio Outbreak Response Campaign

AFENET Nigeria remains committed to supporting the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in its efforts to protect the nation’s children from debilitating diseases like polio. From January 18th to 22nd, 2025, AFENET Nigeria deployed staff and Management Support Teams (MSTs) to assist in the NPHCDA’s polio outbreak response campaign in Lagos, Nasarawa, and Kogi states.

The campaign targeted children aged 0 to 59 months, ensuring they received the life-saving polio vaccine. AFENET Nigeria staff worked tirelessly, even in hard-to-reach areas, to ensure no child was left behind. This initiative reflects the organization’s commitment to providing vaccines that not only prevent disease but also promise a healthier future for every child.

Moving Forward

AFENET Nigeria continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s health systems and improving immunization coverage. Through its capacity-building efforts, community engagement strategies, and adoption of digital tools, AFENET Nigeria is ensuring that health interventions reach the most vulnerable populations, offering them a chance for a healthier future. By working collaboratively with local leaders and stakeholders, AFENET is fostering sustainability in Nigeria’s public health initiatives and striving towards better health outcomes for all.