A major initiative to reach Nigeria’s most vulnerable unvaccinated children has culminated in the installation of solar power systems at 28 primary healthcare centres across Kano State, addressing chronic electricity shortages that have hampered immunisation efforts in remote areas.
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The solar-powered facilities are part of a broader strategy to tackle Nigeria’s zero-dose challenge, where thousands of children in underserved communities remain without basic vaccines and essential healthcare services. Kano State leads Nigeria in the number of zero-dose cases, making it a priority target for the intervention.
The project is a collaboration between UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and eHealth Systems Africa under the CDS3 Health System Strengthening programme, which focuses on Nigeria’s 100 most underserved local government areas. Installation work was completed between 2024 and 2025 following a comprehensive 2023 assessment that identified 371 healthcare centres nationwide requiring power solutions.
GAVI’s Senior Country Manager Jessica Crawford explained that the Kano facilities were selected based on their strategic locations in zero-dose areas, the absence of a reliable electricity supply, and existing routine immunisation services. The project prioritised Level-2 primary healthcare centres with minimal human resources to strengthen capacity where it was most needed.
Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, stated that the solar installations would directly address healthcare access challenges for zero-dose children and pregnant women who lack routine immunisation and basic medical services. He noted that reliable power would be crucial for eliminating the state’s high zero-dose burden.
The solar systems will enable uninterrupted vaccine refrigeration, ensuring that temperature-sensitive immunisations remain effective even in areas with unreliable grid electricity. UNICEF Chief of Field Office Rahama Farah, represented by Officer-in-Charge Michael Banda, highlighted that the installations would support 24-hour healthcare delivery while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Crawford described the intervention as extending beyond infrastructure development to building sustainable and equitable health systems. The project targets communities where children have been left behind by traditional healthcare delivery systems, often due to geographical isolation and inadequate power infrastructure.
The commissioner urged local communities to protect the new solar installations and avoid converting them for personal use, noting their critical role in improving community health outcomes. The facilities are expected to significantly enhance vaccine storage capabilities and extend operating hours for healthcare workers serving remote populations.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Director-General of the State Primary Health Care Management Board, Prof. Salisu Ibrahim, along with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Gates Foundation, and other development partners supporting Nigeria’s immunisation efforts.
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