By Muhammad Amaan
The Sokoto State Government in collaboration with the African Health Budget Network (AHBN), has unveiled a budget scorecard to address challenges in zero-dose polio immunisation.
The initiative is part of a broader effort, supported by GAVI, the Vaccine Network in partnership with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), to improve immunisation coverage in four states of Borno, Bauchi, Kano, and Sokoto.
The Zero-Dose Immunisation Scorecard is designed to track performance, measure progress, and offer actionable insights to enhance routine immunisation, particularly for zero-dose children—those who have not received any vaccines.
Speaking at the launch, Programme Manager at the Sokoto Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordinating Centre, Malam Nasiru Abubakar, explained that the scorecard will help identify immunisation gaps, guide advocacy, and engage stakeholders to ensure no child is left behind.
He emphasised that the scorecard offers data-driven recommendations to support better decision-making and empower state-level civil society organisations (CSOs), professional bodies, and the media to advocate for full immunisation coverage.
Malam Abubakar called on stakeholders to promote transparency, strengthen immunisation systems, and drive sustainable progress at the sub-national level.
On his part, Sokoto State Focal Person for AHBN, Umar Garba Khadi, noted that the scorecard focuses on children aged 0–24 months and was developed by members of a dedicated community of practice.
He added that advocacy efforts will include stronger collaboration with the State Assembly and the executive to ensure timely release and proper utilisation of immunisation budgets for 2025.
Khadi expressed confidence that the initiative would bolster efforts to eradicate polio and achieve universal vaccine coverage through coordinated stakeholder action.
Chairman of the Coalition of NGOs in Sokoto, Bello Shehu Gwadabawa, hailed the launch and noted that the scorecard will help track progress and identify barriers to immunisation in the state.
He raised concerns about Sokoto’s low vaccine coverage, citing over 121,000 unvaccinated children.
He urged the government to increase the immunisation budget release from the current 40% in 2024 to at least 60% in 2025. Gwadabawa reaffirmed that civil society groups would continue to engage stakeholders to ensure full immunisation coverage.
The launch event brought together a broad coalition of partners, including civil society groups, state and local government officials, the Nigeria Labour Congress, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other key stakeholders.
The Zero-Dose Immunisation Scorecard represents a strategic step toward eliminating preventable diseases, strengthening routine immunisation programs, and ensuring that no child is left unprotected, especially in high-burden states like Sokoto.
