The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening routine child immunisation as it hosted a delegation from Save the Children International (SCI), led by its Country Director, Duncan Harvey.
The courtesy visit, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, formed part of Save the Children’s global leadership tour of Nigeria to assess the impact of the BOOST Project (Better Opportunities for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation for Zero-Dose and Under-Immunised Children) and discuss strategic priorities for child health in Lagos.
Welcoming the delegation, the Permanent Secretary of LSPHCB, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, appreciated Save the Children for its continued support, noting that Lagos’ rapidly growing population and unique demographic profile require sustained partnerships to meet increasing healthcare demands.
Mustafa said the state’s position as a major commercial and transit hub has contributed to significant population migration, with new settlements emerging rapidly across areas such as Alimosho and Ikorodu. He noted that the trend has increased the number of children requiring routine immunisation across the state.
He identified expansion of cold-chain infrastructure as one of the key areas requiring additional support, noting that while the state has plans to increase its cold storage capacity, technical assistance and equipment from development partners would help preserve vaccine potency and extend immunisation services to newly established communities.
The Permanent Secretary also urged Save the Children to provide real-time findings from its field assessments to enable the Board to identify emerging gaps and deploy targeted interventions.
Harvey commended the Lagos State Government for its investment in child health and nutrition, describing its approach to routine immunisation as a model worthy of further study.
He said Save the Children was interested in learning from Lagos’ operational strategies and successful interventions with a view to adapting applicable approaches in other states where the organisation operates.
Following the meeting, the delegation and health officials proceeded to Agbede Primary Health Centre in Ikorodu Local Government Area for a field assessment.
The visit provided an opportunity to observe routine immunisation activities, assess facility-level cold-chain storage and engage with community members receiving primary healthcare services.
