BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of African Health Budget Network (AFBN), Dr Aminu Garba Magashi has reaffirmed that Sokoto state is making progress towards addressing the immunization zero dose challenges.
Dr Magashi, who said AHBN is implementing the Zero Dose Learning hub in Sokoto state in collaboration with AFENET, added that, the recent Federal Government rating of Sokoto and Kano as states with the highest number of zero dose was alarming, hence the need for urgent action to turn the tide for good.
While presenting the 2024 Sokoto State Immunization Budget Accountability Annual Scorecard for validation, Dr Magashi expressed optimism that AHBN members in Sokoto state will engage with stakeholders and political office holders to verify the findings before arriving at a final copy.
“”We will present the final 2024 Sokoto State Immunization Budget Accountability Scorecard after validation. Though, our findings at the moment indicates that many local government areas in Sokoto state are zero dose. And what it means is that, children in such LGAs have not been able to receive even Penta 1 vaccine. That’s the vaccine that will prevent children from Diptheria, whooping cough, tetanus and all other child killer diseases. But largely overall, we are seeing an increment in Sokoto state Routine Immunization budget performance”,
Dr Magashi affirmed.
Speaking earlier, Sokoto State Focal Person of AHBN, Umar Garba Kadi said they are not only into budget tracking but also advocate for social mobilization to end zero dose using community and religious leaders.
“”We also have the Community Resource Groups is some LGAs. At the moment we have in Wamakko and Tambuwal and we are making efforts to extend the group to 13 other LGAs to allow for better outing and ensure good performance towards reducing the zero dose challnge””, Kadi said.
On his part, the Sokoto State Emergency and Routine Immunization Programme Manager, Nasiru Abubakar, who is also the chairman, Community of Practice (COP) said the scorecard is very important for the state as it serves as a guage for them to know how far they are doing on the issue of immunization.
“”Sokoto state government and myself as the Programme Manager of RI we are very worried about the issue of zero dose and we are working round the clock to ensure that the issue becomes history soon””. Nasiru enthused.
