The African Health Budget Network, AHBN, has urged the kano State government to priortised immunization programmes, improved budget, timely releases, and stronger supervision of campaigns in the state.
The State Focal Person For AHBN, Dr. Musa Muhammad Bello made this know during a press briefing and scorecard presentation.
Dr Bello explains that the timely release of immunization funds is crucial for effective vaccine delivery and public health outcomes, adding that, ensuring the vaccines are available and accessible to target populations.
He affirmed that the Nigeria Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) project is being implemented by AHBN in consortium with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and with support from GAVI
The objectives of the projects are to enhance healthcare professionals’ knowledge and skills regarding immunization practices and increase demand to reach unreached children in four states, including Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Borno. He highlights.
Zero Dose
Dr Bello stressing, that the ZDLH project seeks to address gaps in immunization equity in providing a structured framework for Nigeria to improve data use and promptly generate evidence to identify, measure, monitor, and reach “zero dose” children, “under-immunized” children, and “missed” communities.
However, “African Health Budget Network (AHBN) has conducted many activities under the project for over two years now, including establishing a community of practice for immunization
The agency explained that the stakeholder engagements and conduct of decentralized immunization monitoring in collaboration with AFENET, in Kumbotso and Sumaila LGAs, as well as the development of immunization budget tracking and accountability score card. ”
According to Dr Bello, “The project organized press briefing and score card dissemination to share its success advocate for improve commitments from all stakeholders towards addressing the zero dose and under immunized children issues in the state, based on issues identified from both score card and various stakeholder engagement.”
The agency applauds the State government for its sustained double-digit health budget allocation and establishment of a state task force on immunization, he stated.
Dr Bello appeal the state government to improve its immunization budget performance through timely releases of funds and improve in the timely release of counterpart funding for immunization at both states.
He further explained that delay in funding can lead to stockout, missed vaccination opportunities, and increased risk of outbreaks.
With timely funding, programs can maintain cold chain integrity, transport vaccines, and train personnel, ultimately protecting communities from vaccine-preventable diseases. He stressed.
AHBN urges development partners and stakeholders to work together to improve immunization coverage and protect the health of children in Nigeria.
The ZDLH project will continue to advocate for improved commitments from all stakeholders towards addressing zero-dose and under-immunized children issues in Nigeria.
Polio vaccine is a crucial immunization that protects children from poliomyelitis, a highly infectious.
Polio can lead to paralysis and even death,Vaccination is key to preventing polio and protecting public health.