assessment monitoring of an expanded program on immunisations activities in northern nigeria states

Abstract

Over two million deaths are delayed through immunization each year worldwide. Despite this, vaccine preventable diseases remain the most common cause of childhood mortality. With an estimated three million deaths each year, this field work summarises the main activities and findings of polio eradication activities in Nigeria, from 1stFeb to 30thApril 2012. 33 health facilities and 3 hospitals were visited in order to assess the immunisation activates and surveillance system. The keys activities included technical support in Feb and March IPDs, community sensitization by visiting community leader to solve Non-Compliances (NC), training personnel, validating and reviewing micro plan in ward and Local Government Authorities (LGAs)level, reviewing high risk operational plan in high risk LGA. The main key finding includes Poor quality of training in ward level, there was no training material for Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), absenteeism and non-comfortable place for training, missed children and missed settlements reported in Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs)in some ward due to inadequate number of teams, dishonest teams and poor close supervision. The main recommendations include State team should continue advocate for political engagement to support the successes polio eradication activities, Intensified monitoring and supervision at field level during the IPDs by all level of supervisors is great solution for improving team performance and reach the missed children, Generalize the pilot team to the rest of LGAs in the state especially in improving the program, team performance, coverage and reducing non-compliance and missed children, Intensify supportive supervision to the surveillance site by the State, WHO officers and the LGA Facilitator.