Members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly have pledged to ensure that the N870 million proposed Immunization Budget for 2025 was approved and passed when presented by the Executive arm.
They also promised to step up their oversight visits of all MDAs under the State Ministry of Health so as to ensure that all administrative and financial bottlenecks affecting Routine Immunization administration and uptake especially related to budget are addressed.
The Members made the promise when Bauchi State Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (CoP) made a case for increased funding for immunization in the state budget during an advocacy visit.
Majority Leader of the Assembly, Saleh Hodi Disina said that as a member of the Public Account Committee, he will facilitate improved funding for health, especially, Routine Immunization.
On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Lawan Dauda said that he will lobby his colleagues in the Committee on Appropriation to ensure that all necessary support is given to ensure Increased Immunization funding in the State.
Earlier, Chairman of the Hub, Jinjiri Garba and the State Focal Person, African Health Budget Network (AHBN) Dr Hassan Shuaibu led the advocacy Visit to the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Saleh Hodi Disina and Chairman, House Committee on Health Lawan Dauda.
They urged the House to also strengthen oversight, tracking, promote accountability and sustainability of Health issues in order to ensure effective and efficient healthcare service delivery services.
The Community of Practice request include the need for the Legislators to ensure the smooth passage of the projected N870 Million Immunization Budget for the year 2025 and for the creation of a budget line for Immunization/Zero Dose.
Other areas of concern are the re-introduction of the Government Cash Counterpart (GCC) Account and the funding of same to enable utilization of the allocated amount therein for eventual emergencies related to vaccine-preventable diseases and routine immunization counterpart funding payments in the state.
