Every child matters: North Sumatra rallies together for immunization

In a quiet but powerful gesture, Mrs Kahiyang Ayu Bobby Nasution leaned forward to administer an oral polio vaccine to 5-month-old Kaluna, the daughter of Winda Wulan Sari Fitria. 

“Immunization is essential to protect my child,” said Winda, clear-eyed and resolute. “I’ll make sure Kaluna receives her full schedule of vaccines at the posyandu every month.”

That moment – captured in North Sumatra during the April 2025 roll-out of the national PENARI catch-up immunization campaign – underscores the growing commitment in the province and across Indonesia to close immunization gaps and protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Mrs Kahiyang Ayu Bobby Nasution administers an oral polio vaccine to 5-month-old Kaluna. Credit: WHO/Victor Mangu

Led by the provincial health office, with strong support from TP-PKK (Family Welfare Team) cadre and community health workers, the campaign focused on vaccinating infants, under-five children and women of childbearing age who had missed routine immunizations.

The World Health Organization (WHO), along with key partners such as UNICEF and UNDP, provided critical support, developing an Excel-based monitoring tool and immunization dashboard, disseminating the PENARI guideline and building frontline health-worker capacity. 

In just one week, more than 26 000 children across North Sumatra received life-saving immunizations, including over 8700 “zero-dose” children who had never been immunized. Districts like Deli Serdang, Dairi and Simalungun emerged as standout performers, accounting for thousands of immunizations. Nationally, the campaign delivered more than 460 000 immunization doses to almost 185 000 infants, children and women, highlighting what local leadership, backed by national support, can achieve.

“This is the power of collaboration,” said H. Muhammad Faisal H., Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Health Office. “Through PENARI, we’ve proven we can reach the unreached and give every child a chance at a healthier life.”

Short-term gains, long-term stakes

Behind the numbers was an extensive mobilization effort, enabled by local monitoring tools and the active involvement of TP-PKK cadre, whose grassroots networks extend deep into urban neighbourhoods and rural villages.

However, officials and families in the province agree: progress must be sustained. With nearly 70 000 children across North Sumatra still zero-dose, the work ahead remains urgent, and was the focus of a TP-PKK-led World Immunization Week event held on 5 May 2025, with participation from all 33 districts.

“Immunization is the best protection we can give our children,” said Mrs Nasution, speaking as Chair of TP-PKK North Sumatra. “Let’s work together to ensure they grow up healthy and strong, ready to build a better future for Indonesia.”

Mrs Kahiyang Ayu Bobby Nasution, Chair of the North Sumatra TP-PKK, leads a province-wide teleconference during World Immunization Week, joined by health officials, local government and community leaders. Credit: WHO/Victor Mangu

In the months since, health offices and community leaders across the province have continued door-to-door follow-up with families, expanded outreach to underserved communities, and deepened collaboration with schools, religious leaders and local organizations – efforts that are essential to converting short-term gains into lasting progress. 

“Every zero-dose child is a child at risk, and a child we can reach,” said Dr Stephen Chacko, Team Lead, Communicable Diseases at WHO Indonesia. “But to do that, we must ensure strong local leadership, reliable data and routine services – not just during campaigns, but every day.”

In North Sumatra – as across Indonesia – the momentum is real. The challenge now is to make it routine. 

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Written by Victor Pati Mangu, Vaccination Technical Officer, WHO Indonesia