Bauchi State Deputy Governor, who doubles as Chairman of the State Taskforce Committee on Immunization and Primary Healthcare, Rt. Hon. Auwal Muhammad Jatau, has noted that increased 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 Deputy Governor’s Office on Thursday.
The Deputy Governor also mentioned that the present administration has sustained its commitment to adequate funding in the health sector in order to promote the health of the people of the state.
Auwal Muhammad Jatau noted that the state has a milestone record in the payment of counterpart funding to the MOU basket.
According to him, “The state has released in full the sum of 410 million naira in counterpart funding to the MOU basket fund, which clearly shows our commitment to ensuring that every child is immunized. Already, the sum of 870 million naira has been captured in the 2025 proposed budget.”
He added that the government is committed to providing the necessary funding for immunization to ensure that all children under five years receive all vaccinations.
The Deputy Governor further stated, “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 of the African Field Epidemiology Network, for championing health promotion and advocacy for funding for immunization through the Zero Dose Learning Hub.
The Chief Executive Officer and Coordinator of the Africa Health Budget Network, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, said that the advocacy is not limited to budget allocation but also covers budget release, tracking of immunization funding at health facilities, outreach sessions, cold chain facilities, solar energy, and the availability of vaccines, among others.
According to him, “I am happy that the State Governor, who was once a commissioner, is doing much to promote immunization activities in the state.”
He called for the creation of a budget line for zero-dose immunization and urged the government to ensure that the 870 million naira budgeted for the MOU basket in the 2025 proposed budget is approved.
The Coordinator added, “Our focus now will be on evidence-based advocacy for the release of funds for immunization and tracking the implementation of these funds to ensure that children receive penta vaccination, especially now with diphtheria cases in the state.”
The AHBN focal person, Dr. Hassan Shuaibu Musa, commended the state for meeting all payments of counterpart funding.
He stated that the network established the community of practice as a subcomponent of the learning hub to focus on budget tracking, accountability, and sustainability.
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The Co-chairman of the Community of Practice, Jinjiri Garba, called on the government to reactivate the Bauchi State Health Trust Fund as an alternative source of funding for 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 designed for Community of Practice members to review the work implemented since the initiative’s capacity building, assess achievements, challenges, and progress, and adjust the work plan to reflect the current situation.
