IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-LED ACSM THROUGH TRAINED VOLUNTEERS AND STREAMLINED REPORTING SYSTEMS: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA - NIGER BORDER COMMUNITIES
Author(s)
Maruchi Wotogbe, MSc.1, Olamide Akintibubo, MBA, MSPH2, Inimfon Akpabio, BSc.1, Tofunmi Ogundipe, BSc3, Omofome Ikogho, MBBS, MPH4, Osi Kufor, MPH1, Precious Chukwuma, BSc.5, Olugbemisola SAMUEL, PhD6;
1Development Delivery Partners Inc., FCT Abuja, Nigeria, 2Development Delivery Partners Inc., Boston+, MA, USA, 3Development Delivery Partners Inc., FCT, Nigeria, 4Development Delivery Partners Inc., Ottawa, ON, Canada, 5Development Delivery Partners Inc., FCT, Abuja, Nigeria, 6Development Delivery Partners Inc., and Miva Open University, Department of Public Health, FCT Abuja, Nigeria
1Development Delivery Partners Inc., FCT Abuja, Nigeria, 2Development Delivery Partners Inc., Boston+, MA, USA, 3Development Delivery Partners Inc., FCT, Nigeria, 4Development Delivery Partners Inc., Ottawa, ON, Canada, 5Development Delivery Partners Inc., FCT, Abuja, Nigeria, 6Development Delivery Partners Inc., and Miva Open University, Department of Public Health, FCT Abuja, Nigeria
OBJECTIVES: Recent population displacement, insecurity and poor community-based surveillance (CBS) have worsened public health threats and increased the exposure of cross-border communities to the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). Hence, this study examines the effectiveness of implementing community-led advocacy, communication, and social mobilization (ACSM) approach with the goal of improving immunization demands and discontinue the spread of cVDPV among cross border communities of Borno, Yobe and Jigawa states.
METHODS: This is an ongoing study, and it's been implemented through funding from the Gates Foundation as community-based intervention through the engagement of civil society organizations (CSOs). In collaboration with local leaders, influential women were identified and trained as Community Resource Women Network (CRoWN) volunteers using basic, contextually relevant nutrition and immunization. The CRoWN volunteers visited households to enumerate U5 children and women within reproductive age groups, observe health occurrence, identify immunization defaulters, and link them to service through predefined referral protocols.
RESULTS: A total of 2,103 women were selected by community leaders across Borno (37.3%), Jigawa (23.3%), and Yobe (39.4%) states. About 2,354 participants were trained in ACSM and CBS for priority diseases, immunization, maternal and child health, and nutrition. Participants increased based on willingness to improve public health outcomes in their communities. CRoWN volunteers visited households, enumerated 14,424 Under-five children and 9,368 women of reproductive age. Among these, 1,228 children who had never received polio vaccine, and 2,808 defaulters were identified, documented referrals, link caregivers to health facilities. Healthcare providers provided services, updated the volunteers, and follow-up within 3-7 days to confirm completion. Inaccessibility of certain locations, low literacy level of some of the volunteers, and poor network coverage were some of the challenges experienced in this study.
CONCLUSIONS: The adopted integrated approach strengthened local surveillance, improved early disease detection, and supported timely public health action in Nigeria - Niger border communities.
METHODS: This is an ongoing study, and it's been implemented through funding from the Gates Foundation as community-based intervention through the engagement of civil society organizations (CSOs). In collaboration with local leaders, influential women were identified and trained as Community Resource Women Network (CRoWN) volunteers using basic, contextually relevant nutrition and immunization. The CRoWN volunteers visited households to enumerate U5 children and women within reproductive age groups, observe health occurrence, identify immunization defaulters, and link them to service through predefined referral protocols.
RESULTS: A total of 2,103 women were selected by community leaders across Borno (37.3%), Jigawa (23.3%), and Yobe (39.4%) states. About 2,354 participants were trained in ACSM and CBS for priority diseases, immunization, maternal and child health, and nutrition. Participants increased based on willingness to improve public health outcomes in their communities. CRoWN volunteers visited households, enumerated 14,424 Under-five children and 9,368 women of reproductive age. Among these, 1,228 children who had never received polio vaccine, and 2,808 defaulters were identified, documented referrals, link caregivers to health facilities. Healthcare providers provided services, updated the volunteers, and follow-up within 3-7 days to confirm completion. Inaccessibility of certain locations, low literacy level of some of the volunteers, and poor network coverage were some of the challenges experienced in this study.
CONCLUSIONS: The adopted integrated approach strengthened local surveillance, improved early disease detection, and supported timely public health action in Nigeria - Niger border communities.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH222
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Pediatrics, STA: Vaccines