By Muhammad Amaan
The Kano State Community of Practice (CoP) on immunization budget tracking, accountability and sustainability has called on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Professional Bodies in the state to put hands together and ensure that an adequate immunization finance is provided by the state government.
The CoP said that the stakeholders should ensure that the fund are timely released, utilized and accounted for, in order to reduce the burden of Zero Dose Children and reach the missed communities in the state with immunization services.
The call was made by Dr. Musa Muhammad Bello, AHBN Zero Dose Learning Hub Kano State Focal Person during a monthly lecture series organized by Kano Network of NGOs (KANET) at the AHBN Conference Hall in Kano.
Dr. Musa who made a presentation to members of KANET and Professional Bodies on ‘The Role of Kano NGOs and Professional Bodies in Ensuring Adequate Immunization Finances, Releases, Utilization and Accountability’ highlighted that Kano State has the highest number of Zero Dose Children in Nigeria with over 330, 000 children and with 15 LGAs with the high burden as prioritized by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).
He explained that the Kano state government has budgeted N528,013,782 for immunization in 2024 and released N88,002,297 representing 16.7% as at August 2024.
He also lamented that the budget performance is low looking at the fourth quarter of the year, adding that CSOs and Professional Bodies like the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Health Workers Union and Nigeria Nurses and Midwives Association can key in to advocate for more immunization funding, releases and monitor utilization to ensure accountability.
According to him, that can be achieve through participating in the relevant state and local government levels governance structures like governing boards of health agencies and parastatals, task force on immunization, RMNCH technical working groups, and familiarity with all relevant documents.
In a welcome remark, KANET Secretary, Barrister Nura Ahmad Muhammad, said the members of the CoP on Immunization Budget Tracking, Accountability and Sustainability were hosted for the October monthly lecture series to enable KANET members understand the work of the CoP in the Routine Immunization (RI) space, challenges and how the CSOs and Professional Bodies can key in to support the reduction of the zero dose children in Kano State.
CSOs leaders who attended the lecture urged the leadership of the CoP to consider accommodating more organizations in the CoP.
Community of Practice (CoP) on immunization budget tracking, accountability and sustainability was established this year by the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Sokoto States under the Zero Dose Learning Hub Project being implemented by AHBN and AFENET with funding from Gavi to advocate for more immunization finances, releases and accountability for the mitigation of the burden of Zero Dose Children in the four states.
