BOOST Project: Kano CoP Trained on Immunisation Advocacy, Budget Tracking, and Accountability
By Ayeeshat J Ahmad from Kano
The Kano State Community of Practice on Immunization, under the BOOST Project supported by Save the Children International, has trained its members on budget tracking, accountability, and advocacy briefs to equip them with new strategies to improve immunisation services.
The meeting focused on providing participants with practical knowledge on how to effectively use advocacy briefs to influence policies and improve immunisation outcomes, particularly for zero-dose and under-immunised children.
Related News
OPINION:“Hajiya Mariya Galadanchi at 97: A Voice That Built Generations in Kano”khalil Imam
KanSLAM Engages Journalists on MNCH Funding, Seeks Improved Budget Release in Kano
Nigeria on the Brink: 50+ CSOs Raise Alarm, Demand Urgent Action on Insecurity, Poverty, Governance
Speaking at the session, the State Team Lead of the BOOST Project in Kano, Abdullahi Magama, stressed the importance of building strong advocacy strategies that can address gaps within the health system and improve routine immunisation coverage.
He explained that the orientation was designed to guide participants on how to engage policymakers and relevant stakeholders using evidence-based advocacy tools to achieve measurable results.
Magama noted that the BOOST Project, which began full implementation in January 2024 and is expected to run until December 2027, is currently being implemented in Gezawa and Ungogo Local Government Areas.
Also speaking, the BOOST Project Advocacy Officer, Umar Ibrahim, highlighted that the orientation aimed at introducing advocacy briefs and engagement strategies to participants, while also sensitising them on how to use the briefs effectively to achieve desired outcomes.
“This meeting is not just about learning, but about equipping advocacy groups with the right tools to influence decision-making and strengthen immunisation systems,” he said.
Ibrahim further explained that the session also provided an opportunity to review and update the BOOST Project stakeholder mapping tool to reflect current realities and ensure that key actors are properly identified and engaged.
On his part, the Co-Chair of the Community of Practice on Accountability, Salisu Yusuf, described the orientation as timely, noting that it would guide upcoming advocacy activities at the state, local government, and community levels.
He said the advocacy efforts would target high-burden areas, with a focus on engaging institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Primary Healthcare Management Board, and local government authorities to improve funding transparency and service delivery.
Yusuf added that the overall goal of the initiative is to reduce the number of zero-dose children and ensure that more children have access to life-saving vaccines across Kano State.
Pulse Time Nigeria reports that the meeting, held at R&K Hotel in Kano, brought together members of the advocacy group, including civil society organisations and media practitioners, to deepen their understanding of advocacy tools and accountability mechanisms, with the aim of ensuring better health outcomes for children.