By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State deputy governor and chairman State taskforce committee on immunization and Primary Health Care Auwal Muhammad Jatau has noted that in rease funding for immunization is the cornerstone of public health in protecting children from diseases.
He stated this when members of the Zero dose learning hub community of practice on immunization budget tracking, accountability and sustainability targeting zero dose children and missed communities paid him an advocacy Visit at the government house.
The deputy governor said the presence administration has sustained it’s commitment to adequate funding to the health sector inorder to ensure the health promotion of the people.
Auwal Muhammad Jatau noted that the state has a milestone record in the payment of counterpart funding to the MOU basket .
“The State has released in full the sum of 410 million naira counterpart funding to the MOU basket fund, which clearly shows our commitment to ensure that every child is immunized and already the sum of 870 million naira has been captured in the 2025 proposed budget”.
He added that government is committed to provide the necessary funding to immunization to ensure that all children under five years received all immunization.
“As chairman of the State taskforce on primary health care I offer myself to be part of the advocacy team for immunization funding.
He commended the Africa Health Budget Network a sub partner to the African field epidemiology network on zero dose learning hub for championing health promotion and advocacy for funding for immunization.
Chief executive officer and coordinator of Africa Health Budget Network Dr Aminu Magashi Garba said the advocacy is not limited to budget allocation but it covers budget release, tracking of immunization funding at the health facilities, outreach sessions, cold chain facilities,solar energy and availability of vaccines among others.
” I am happy that the State governor who was a one time commissioner is doing much in promoting immunization activities in the state”.
He called for the creation of a budget line for zero dose immunization and for government to ensure that the 870 million budgeted for the MOU basket in the 2025 proposed budget is approved.
” Our focus now will be on evidence advocacy on the release of funds for immunization and track the implementation of the funds to ensure that children receive penta vaccination especially now with diphtheria cases in the state”.
The AHBN focal person Dr Hassan Shuaibu Musa commend the State for meeting up with all payment of counterpart funding.
He said the network established the community of practice as a sub component of the learning hub to focus on budget tracking, accountability and sustainability.
Co chairman of COP jinjiri Garba called on government to reactivate the Bauchi state health trust fund as an alternative source of funding to the health sector.
The Africa Health Budget Network also held the quarterly review meeting of the Zero dose learning hub community of practice on immunization budget tracking, accountability and sustainability targeting zero dose children and missed communities.
The meeting was for CoP members to review the work implemented since the initiative ‘s capacity building, assess achievements, challenges and progress and also to adjust the work plan to reflect current situation.
