AHBN’s CoP on Immunization meets new Borno NMA Chair

By Muhammad Amaan

The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) Community of Practice (CoP) for Immunization budget tracking, accountability and sustainability in Borno State has met with the new chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr El-Yakub Mohammed.

The meeting which took place at the Polio EOC/CoP Secretariat Nursing Home Maiduguri, was chaired by the Chairman of the Borno CoP, Dr Ali D. Gambo with the AHBN Focal Person in the state, Dr Adamu A. Umar and other members of the CoP in attendance.

The meeting was aimed at welcoming the new chairman of NMA in the state, Dr El-Yakub Mohammed, to the Community of Practice.

Dr Mohammed, a consultant microbiologist at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), a fellow of the Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), has been part of the ZDLH project in Borno State.

In his remarks, the immediate past chairman of the NMA in the state, Professor Bukar Bakki, introduced the new state chairman and applauded the AHBN for ensuring that the concept of the CoP and for ensuring the full participation of professional bodies and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in addressing the immunization gaps in the state through robust engagements and advocacy to key state and non-state actors.

The NMA Chairman Dr El-Yakub Mohammed appreciated the CoP leadership for the warm welcome and pledged the support and partnership of the Borno NMA under his leadership in advancing the goals of the project.

He mentioned the commitment to include zero dose topics for discussions during the state NMA meetings and inviting relevant experts of the state RI/ZDLH to talk and shed more light to health professionals.

He also revealed that there is an agreement between the NMA and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Maiduguri Zonal Network, on a weekly one-hour live phone-in programme tagged ‘A tambayi likita’ (Ask Doctor).

He pledged to factor in zero dose activities of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) and the ZDLH by inviting relevant actors to appear and shed light on the efforts at addressing the immunization gaps across communities in the state amongst other issues that will add value towards ensuring that no child is left behind.

On his part, the Chairman of the CoP, Dr Ali D. Gambo appreciated the new NMA leadership and assured him of a robust partnership with the NMA and other professional bodies going forward.