LSPHCB, SCI COLLABORATE TO STRENGTHEN CHILD IMMUNISATION
The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) hosted a high-level delegation from Save the Children International (SCI), led by Country Director, Mr. Duncan Harvey, during an official courtesy visit to the board on Thursday, 17th September 2026.
The visit comes as part of Save the Children’s global leadership tour in Nigeria to evaluate the impact of the BOOST Project (Better Opportunities for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation for Zero-Dose and Under-Immunised Children) and to align on strategic priorities for child health across the state.
Welcoming the delegation, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, expressed sincere appreciation to Save the Children International for their unwavering support, noting that while Lagos State remains one of the country's highest investors in health care and child nutrition, its unique demographic landscape demands continuous collaboration.
Dr. Mustafa highlighted that the state’s intense commercial activity and strategic position as a cross-border transit hub drive an extraordinary rate of migration. With approximately 90 new residents arriving in Lagos every single hour to settle permanently, new communities are constantly springing up across the state, most notably in sprawling, high-density areas like Alimosho and Ikorodu. Because of this massive migration, Lagos accounts for the highest absolute numbers of children requiring routine immunisation, making sustained external support crucial to keeping pace with growing demand.
Addressing the leadership team, the Permanent Secretary outlined specific areas where immediate assistance would yield the greatest impact. Chief among these is the state's cold store infrastructure. While Lagos State has concrete plans underway to expand cold-chain storage capacity, additional technical and hardware assistance from international partners is urgently needed to preserve vaccine potency as coverage extends into newly formed settlements.
Dr. Mustafa also encouraged Save the Children to share real-time findings and observations from their field visits, ensuring the Board remains fully abreast of emerging gaps and can quickly deploy targeted interventions where they are needed most.
Commending the state's proactive approach to public health, Country Director, Mr. Duncan Harvey applauded the Lagos State Government for its exceptional commitment to child health and nutrition, noting that the state's strategic investments have set a commendable benchmark for routine immunisation delivery across Nigeria.
He expressed Save the Children’s eager desire to study Lagos's innovative operational strategies and success stories firsthand during their field assessment, to adapt and replicate these proven solutions to strengthen health systems in other states where the organisation operates.
Following the strategic discussion, the joint delegation will conduct an assessment visit to the Agbede Primary Health Centre in Ikorodu Local Government Area.
The field mission will allow SCI leadership and health officials to observe live immunisation sessions, review facility-level cold chain storage, and engage directly with community members participating in routine health care delivery.
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