ZDLH CoP Seeks Commissioner’s Support to Address Zero Dose Gap in Kano
By Ayeeshat J Ahmad and Mubarak Inuwa
Community of Practice on Immunization Budget Accountability paid an advocacy visit to the Kano State Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Supervision, Dr. Nura Iron Ma’aji.
The visit, aimed at strengthening collaboration to eliminate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, centered on the critical issue of “zero-dose children” – those who have not received a single routine vaccination.
Bridging the Gap: Dr. Fatima Dantata Champions Dialogue Between Mothers and Daughters
KIRS Unveils Ambitious Tax Reform Plan, Aims for N180 Billion Revenue by 2026
Dr. Musa Bello, the Kano State Focal Person for the African Health Budget Network, led the delegation. In his presentation, Dr. Bello elucidated the mandate of the CoP, underpinning his remarks with a stark data analysis of the growing number of zero-dose children across the state.
He highlighted that the Community of Practice and on Immunization Budget and accountability, which has been in operation in Kano for two years, has piloted numerous initiatives.
These include sustained advocacy for increased budget allocation to the health sector and related agencies, as well as requests for the timely release of approved funds.
“Our work does not stop at allocation,” Dr. Bello stated. “We actively follow up on the released funds to the Ministry of Health to ensure the money is utilized for its intended purposes and with transparency.”
Dr. Bello explicitly called on the Commissioner to leverage his office’s oversight function to support the Ministry of Health, particularly during State Executive Council meetings, to ensure health projects are prioritized and properly monitored.
Furthermore, he issued a critical call to action for the state’s local government areas. “We are urging all Local Governments to release their counterpart funding into the basket funding for the zero-dose immunization program. This is essential to make the initiative functional and effective across Kano State,” Dr. Bello emphasized.
In his response, the Honourable Commissioner, Dr. Nura Iron Ma’aji, expressed his profound appreciation to the coalition for the visit, describing it as a gesture in the public interest.
Dr. Ma’aji assured the delegation of his unwavering support, noting that his ministry is designed to work collaboratively with every other ministry in the state.
“I am in full support of the Commissioner for Health, and my ministry is seriously committed to its monitoring and evaluation mandate,” Dr. Ma’aji said. “We will ensure that health projects, like all others, are executed according to specification and deliver value for money.”
He also advised the CoP members to directly engage the Ministry of Local Government to champion the cause of counterpart funding at the grassroots level.
This advocacy visit is part of a broader, concerted effort by a coalition of community of practice on immunization budget and accountability and media groups to ensure Kano State is free from polio and other related diseases, and to establish an effective zero-dose immunization framework for all children.