By Muhammad Amaan
Bauchi State Government has commended the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) Community of Practice (CoP), with support from the African Health Budget Network (AHBN), for its significant contributions toward increasing immunization uptake and tracking in the state.
Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board (BSPHCDB), Dr Rilwanu Mohamned made the commendation at a news conference shortly after the unveiling and validation of the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) Immunization Scorecard in Bauchi.
Dr Mohammed disclosed that out of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bauchi State,13 are still categorised as zero-dose, indicating areas where children have not received any routine vaccination.
He, however, noted that the state has intensified its surveillance system and commended the Zero Dose Learning Hub, State Team, and other partners for their collaborative efforts which have led to a notable improvement in immunization coverage and detection across the state.
The executive chairman highlighted the importance of the new scorecard, emphasising that stakeholders had made some observations during the validation process, which will be incorporated into the final version of the document before its public release.
He urged members of the Community of Practice (CoP) to redouble their efforts to ensure that immunization services reach every eligible child in the state.
Earlier, Co-chairman of ZDLH CoP, Dr Adamu Mohammed, explained that the CoP, with AHBN’s backing, has adopted strategic advocacy and resource mobilization to reduce the number of zero-dose children in the state.
He also noted that the CoP plays a crucial role in budget tracking and promoting accountability to strengthen the immunization process.
In his remarks, the State Lead for the Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Dr Habila Ismaila, appreciated AHBN for its vital partnership within the Zero Dose Learning Hub consortium.
He lauded the support of the Board ’s leadership, the State Team, and development partners, acknowledging their active and constructive engagement throughout the implementation of the project.
