From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Kaduna State on Thursday hosted the official flag-off of the *Direct Delivery of Routine Immunisation Vaccines and Other PHC Commodities for Equity (DRIVE) Initiative*, a groundbreaking national programme designed to strengthen last-mile vaccine delivery and ensure no child is left unprotected from preventable diseases.
The event, organised by the *National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA)* in collaboration with the *Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KDSPHCB)*, *UNICEF*, and other development partners, marked the beginning of a new model for efficient, safe, and timely distribution of vaccines and essential health commodities to every health facility across Nigeria.
Representing the Honourable Commissioner of Health, Kaduna State, the Director of Public Health, *Dr. Sadiq Idris*, described the initiative as “a new era of efficiency, equity, and accountability in primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria.”
He noted that Kaduna’s selection as host reflects its sustained commitment to strengthening routine immunisation and implementing health systems reforms.
Conveying the goodwill of *Governor Uba Sani*, Dr. Idris commended federal authorities and development partners for driving a reform that directly addresses long-standing bottlenecks in vaccine distribution.
He emphasised that the DRIVE Initiative aligns with Kaduna’s ongoing primary healthcare revitalisation efforts, particularly in improving supply chain management and guaranteeing last-mile delivery to rural and underserved communities.
He also acknowledged the critical contributions of development partners, traditional and religious leaders, community structures, and frontline health workers in sustaining immunisation coverage and building community trust.
“This flag-off is not the end — it is the beginning of a new standard,” he declared. “A standard where systems work efficiently, services are predictable, access is equitable, and accountability is strengthened.”
The Director of Logistics at NPHCDA, *Pharmacist Hauwa Tense*, explained that the DRIVE Initiative was conceptualised to close systemic gaps in Nigeria’s vaccine distribution chain. She revealed that in 2021, only 69% of health facilities met Effective Vaccine Management distribution standards, signalling significant last-mile weaknesses despite prior progress.
These inefficiencies, she noted, have led to frequent stock-outs, out-of-pocket costs for frontline health workers, unpredictable financing for vaccine movement, and inequitable access in hard-to-reach communities.
“These are not merely operational gaps,” she stressed. “They are barriers to equity that result in missed immunisation sessions, zero-dose children, and preventable disease outbreaks.”
Under the DRIVE framework, vaccines will now be transported directly from state cold stores to *Solar Direct Drive-equipped health facilities (EHF)*. From there, a structured cascade mechanism ensures onward delivery to *Unequipped Health Facilities (UHF)* on scheduled immunisation days.
The initiative also introduces a defined financing structure for delivery to non-BHCPF-equipped and unequipped facilities, promoting sustainability and institutional ownership within state systems.
Additionally, DRIVE embeds accountability measures through temperature monitoring (+2 to +8°C), GPS tracking, structured reporting systems, and performance-linked vendor payments via the Vaxtrack platform.
National oversight will be provided by NPHCDA, while State Primary Health Care Development Agencies coordinate implementation through State Project Management Teams. UNICEF will provide technical guidance, quality assurance oversight, vendor management support, and capacity building.
The Executive Secretary of KDSPHCB, *Professor Bello Jamoh*, disclosed that the Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed full ownership and commitment to the effective implementation, transparency, and sustainability of the initiative.
Stakeholders, including *Dr. Gerida Birukia*, Chief of the Kaduna Field Office, highlighted that, if fully implemented with discipline and transparency, the DRIVE Initiative is projected to reduce the number of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, improve vaccine availability at service delivery points, enhance data visibility, and ensure more efficient use of public and partner resources.
As the national rollout begins across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna’s hosting of the inaugural flag-off signals a strategic turning point in the country’s journey toward equitable vaccine access. “With DRIVE,” one official noted, “we are building a system where vaccines not only arrive, but arrive potent, on time, and for every child who needs them.”
The ceremony concluded with a collective pledge by federal and state authorities, development partners, and community leaders to sustain the reform and ensure that no child in Nigeria is denied life-saving vaccines due to logistical failures.
