Abijan Governate has a population of 450,000 people, 34% of whom live under the poverty line. There are 13-15000 children under 1 year with a high mortality rate of 68 per 1000, mainly due to poor nutrition and lack of systematic immunisation. TB, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, HiB are all major illnesses and causes of death among children. The immunisation rate is in reality much lower than the low 59% rate according to government figures. There is no central immunisation date base, a suspect 'cold chain', little training and a demoralised and unmotivated health care work force in disarray.

A CRY grant awarded in 2007 will enable rooms in an underused clinic on the edge of the principal town of Zinjibar, to be renovated and equipped to be used as the EPI centre. This will create an immunisation clinic, a cold store for vaccines, 2 offices, a resources room with date base capacity, a training room for local health care workers and toilets and hygienic wash room.

The immunisation coverage will increase to over 90% throughout the Governate. The pilot programme will initiate in Zinjibur itself and then be rolled out through the region firstly through clinics in the other 6 major towns and then a mobile programme through the villages. A central database will be created, a safe cold chain established and training of local health care workers to the point where they can mange the programme. Overall childhood mortality rates and general health will improve dramatically.