Every year on the 8th of March, women are celebrated globally under the International Women’s Day which was originated during an international conference of socialist women held in 1910 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
This year’s theme is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
It calls for actions that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all where no one is left behind.
The Kano State Community of Practice (CoP) on immunization budget tracking and accountability, a coalition of CSOs and government officials are championing the course of childrens health, under the AFENET/AHBN Zero-Dose Learning Hub project, has also join it’s counter part globally in celebrating the International Women’s Day which call on all women and caregivers to take their children to the nearby health facility for immunization so that no child is left unvaccinated.
A major Challenge of Immunization in Kano State is the immunization coverage with only 35.8% coverage for basic antigens (NDHS 2023-24), this has resulted to high number of zero-dose and under immunized children.
The state has fifteen 15 LGAs out of the 100 LGAs that has the highest burden of zero-dose children in Nigeria.
This high number of zero dose has been associated with recurrent outbreak of preventable childhood killer diseases such as the diphtheria outbreak of 2023, that claimed many lives and consumed huge resources that could have been use for other developmental activities.
According to studies conducted in the state on barriers to accessing immunization by many partners such as AFENET, McKinsey, dRPC, Save the Children etc, demand side barriers such as ignorant, religious beliefs, perceived adverse effects, financial constraints and poor health seeking behaviors where the major factors contributing to low immunization services utilization.
Similarly, from the Community of practice (CoP) analysis of immunization funding in the state, which was used to develop score card there is both inadequate budgetary allocations and releases, which negatively affects implementations of both supply and demand side immunization activities.
As cop join Kano women in commemorating the International Women’s Day, we are calling on women, both mothers and care givers to bring forward their children for immunization to the nearest health facilities or during outreaches or immunization campaigns in order to reduce the number of zero-dose and provide lifelong protection from deadly and or disabling diseases.
The CoP also uses this opportunity to advocate for increase investments in immunization activities by both the state and partners.
This would greatly improve the health status and long-term socio-economic development of the state.
African Health Budget Network (AHBN) is an NGO committed to using budget advocacy to promote greater investment in health, accountability and transparency in Africa.
Its implementing Nigeria Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) in consortium with African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) the lead partner, the project implementation is in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), State Primary Health Care Board/Agencies and partners in Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi and Borno States.
The community of Practice CoP on immunization budget tracking and accountability is an advocacy and accountability flat form consisting of CSOs, Government officials and Media established under the zero-dose learning hub project in the four states.
