Sultan Foundation Targets 80,772 Zero-Dose Children in Zamfara

The Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development launched an immunisation initiative in Zamfara state, aiming to reach 80,772 zero-dose children across seven high burden local government areas by December 2027. The program, named Z-TRACE: Zamfara Tracking and Accountability for Equitable Immunisation, was introduced during a one-day inception meeting at Karma Guest Inn, Gusau.

Aminu Inuwa Muhammad, the Director of Programs at the Sultan Foundation, stated that Zamfara has approximately 269,241 zero-dose children who have not received any routine vaccines. The targeted local government areas include Gusau, Talata Mafara, Shinkafi, Zurmi, Anka, Bakura, and Tsafe, selected due to weak micro planning, fragmented child-level data, and entrenched non-compliance.

The initiative aligns with Gavi 5.0 Strategic Priorities and Nigeria’s National Strategic Health Development Plan III. Muhammad emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration to reduce the number of unimmunized children in the state.