By Muhammad Amaan
The Kano State Community of Practice (CoP) on immunisation budget tracking, accountability and sustainability has conducted a Facility Based Immunization Budget Tracking in Sumaila Local Government Area.
During the visit, the CoP team also paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman of Sumaila LGA, Faruk Abdu Sumaila.
The visit was led by the State Focal Person of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) project, Dr Musa Muhammad Bello.
He intimated the chairman about the project and sought the support of the local government council in creating more awareness and ensure adequate supply of antigens to address the burden of Zero Dose Children in the LGA.
Sumaila LGA is one of the 15 LGAs in Kano wtate with high number of Zero Dose children in Kano, and is also the AFENET/AHBN ZDLH target LGA in addition to Kumbotso LGA.
In his remarks, Faruk Sumaila appreciated the team for the visit and commended the intervention to reduce the number ZD children.
“You all left your homes to come down to Sumaila to support us in improving and saving the lives of our children, this is highly appreciated and commendable and we will give all the necessary support to ensure the success of this project,” he said.
Led by the Sumaila LGA Health Educator, Usman Mai Sarki, members of the CoP further advanced and conducted a facility-based Immunization budget tracking at the Sumaila General Hospital.
At the facility’s Immunization unit, the team found out that there’s no stock out of vaccines and the unit has a functional solar system that provides the required temperature to store the vaccines.
The unit also conducts four fixed Routine Immunization (RI) sessions and one outreach session. A challenge of inadequate human resources at the unit which makes the work a bit cumbersome was identified and the team pledged to advance as to that effect to the relevant authorities.
With funding from Gavi, Zero Dose Learning Hub project is being implemented by AHBN and AFENET in Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto and Kano states in order to create more awareness on the importance of taking live savings vaccines, advocate for an increase in Immunization funds and timely releases to address the burden of Zero Dose Children in Kano state and Nigeria as a whole.
