Bauchi Govt Commends Zero Dose Learning Hub for facilitating immunization funding

By Lizzy Carr

The Bauchi State Government has acknowledged that the interventions of the African Health Budget Network (AHBN) Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (CoP) have contributed significantly to reducing the number of zero-dose children in the state.

The Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, made this known at the 2025 Bauchi State Zero Dose Learning Hub Annual Scorecard Validation Meeting, held at the Polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Bauchi.

Dr Mohammed said sustained advocacy by the organisation translated into the allocation and release of ₦872 million for immunisation by the state government into the Immunisation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Basket Fund.

According to him, the CoP’s major activity that is advocacy engagements with the state deputy governor, who chairs the Primary Health Care Task Force, traditional leaders, and other key stakeholders has resulted in a significant increase in funding for primary health care especially immunization.

“These efforts have led to an increased budgetary allocation of about ₦40 billion to the State Primary Health Care Board in the 2026 appropriation,”

Dr Mohammed described the Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice AHBN/ AFENET noting that their impact in Bauchi State has been remarkable.

“The CoP came in as a support mechanism to help the state engage relevant stakeholders. If given the opportunity, I would advocate for a second phase of support, as there are still zero-dose challenges to address in the state,” he said.

On sustainability, he assured that Bauchi State would continue to uphold the 15 per cent health sector budget allocation, in line with the Abuja Declaration.

He further explained that the scorecard has helped the state understand its position on immunisation coverage and financing, identify gaps, and develop strategies to address them.

“Today’s validation is to critically examine the scorecard indicators and ensure they align with what actually occurred in the immunisation sector,” he added.

Earlier, the Bauchi State Focal Person of the African Health Budget Network, Dr Hassan Shuaibu, said AHBN, in collaboration with the African Epidemiology Network and with support from GAVI, is implementing the Zero Dose Learning Hub project in Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto States.

Dr Shuaibu explained that AHBN’s component of the project focuses on reaching missed communities through advocacy, stakeholder engagement, budget tracking, and accountability to improve routine immunisation coverage.

“The scorecard was developed to institutionalize accountability and track progress and performance towards increasing and sustaining routine immunisation coverage, thereby reducing zero-dose children,” he said.

He noted that Bauchi State has made commendable progress, particularly in immunisation financing.

The validation meeting featured a cross-examination of key indicators, after which stakeholders reached a consensus.

Dr Shuaibu also acknowledged the support of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board for providing access to state data and actively participating in the development of the scorecard.

In separate interviews, the Chairman, Bauchi State House Committee on Appropriation, Musa Wamzam, said the Zero Dose Learning Hub and AHBN have positively impacted immunisation outcomes, especially in the 13 zero-dose local government areas of the state.

“The shift from MoU co-financing to fully state-funded immunisation in 2025 is a major sustainability milestone. I commend ZDLH for its advocacy that compelled government to allocate and release funds into the immunisation MoU Basket,” he said.

Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Lawal Dauda, said engagements with AHBN and ZDLH have strengthened lawmakers’ understanding of immunisation financing.

“We are determined to sustain the 15 per cent health budget allocation. We will also strengthen stakeholder engagement, train health workers, and mobilise local government chairmen to support immunisation financing,” he said.

The lawmakers commended the Convener of the African Health Budget Network, Dr Aminu Magashi, for his continued support to Bauchi State.