By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Ministry of Health has been advised to adopt the Accountability Framework and ensure sustainable budget tracking and accountability in managing Immunization finances.
The advice was given by the Bauchi State Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (CoP) as part of measures to fight Zero Dose in the state.
This is as the Group has continue to advocate for increased immunization funding, timely release of appropriated funds and sustainable accountability
This was part of the message the CoP Members presented to the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam when they paid him an advocacy visit Friday.
The Group informed the Commissioner about African Health Budget Network (AHBN) and African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and how the consortium is implementing the Zero Dose Learning Hub in Ganjuwa and Bauchi Local Government Areas of the State.
The Advocacy team led by the AHBN State Focal Person, Dr Hassan Shuaibu Musa and the Co- chair of the CoP, Jinjiri Garba requested the Ministry of Health to adopt the Accountability Framework and ensure sustainable budget tracking and accountability in managing Immunization finances.
Hassan Musa said that AHBN has developed an Accountability Framework and Immunization Financing Scorecard for the State in addition to supporting the participation of local NGOs and CSOs in supportive supervision and other immunization activities of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board.
AFENET State Lead, Dr Habila Ismaila appreciated the Commissioner’s pledge to support the implementation of Zero Dose Learning Hub in the State.
While responding, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam said that the Ministry will support the Zero Dose Learning Hub and any other support that will help the State achieve Universal Immunization Coverage.
He informed the team that the declaration of a State of emergency in health sector by Governor Bala Mohammed has removed all administrative bottlenecks that will hinder lifesaving interventions in the sector.
According to statistics thirteen out of the twenty local government government areas of Bauchi State are zero dose.
