In a renewed effort to address the rising number of zero-dose and under-immunised children, tricycle union leaders in Kano State have pledged to support routine immunisation campaigns, following a sensitisation training organised under the BOOST Project.
The engagement, which brought together over 130 leaders of the Kano State Tricycle Associations Forum, was held in Kano focused on mobilising transport operators as grassroots advocates for child immunisation.
The training was implemented by Save the Children International with funding support from GlaxoSmithKline, in collaboration with the Kano State Community of Practice on Immunisation, Budget Tracking, Advocacy, and Accountability. The forum represents one of the largest male-dominated associations in the state, with an estimated membership of about 200,000 operators.
Speaking at the session, the BOOST Project Advocacy Officer, Umar Ibrahim, said the initiative was designed to leverage trusted community platforms to improve access to life-saving vaccines. He noted that tricycle operators interact daily with passengers and families, placing them in a strategic position to influence attitudes and promote vaccine acceptance, particularly in underserved communities.
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Participants were taken through key aspects of routine immunisation, including schedules, benefits, and the urgent need to address barriers such as resistance from male household heads, which continues to affect uptake across parts of the state.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORON), Abdulkarim Yusuf, assured that members of the union would support the campaign by promoting immunisation awareness among passengers and within their communities.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Kano State Community of Practice on Accountability, Salisu Yusuf, emphasised the need for sustained collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations, and community stakeholders to improve health outcomes.
At the end of the engagement, the union leaders signed a commitment statement, affirming their resolve to champion routine immunisation within their networks. The commitments include promoting awareness, identifying and referring zero-dose children, encouraging male participation in immunisation efforts, and supporting the development of a Kano State-specific immunisation policy.
They also pledged to integrate immunisation advocacy into their routine activities and meetings, while working closely with implementing partners to track progress and ensure accountability.
The initiative forms part of broader interventions under the BOOST Project, Better Opportunities for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation for Zero-Dose and Under-Immunised Children, which aims to strengthen routine immunisation coverage, improve accountability systems, and expand access to essential vaccines across Nigeria.