By, Nura Bala Ajingi.
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), a civil society organisation advocating improved community health financing, has commended the Kano State Government for its significant budgetary commitment to routine immunisation programmes across the state.
The Kano State Coordinator of AHBN, Dr. Musa Mohammed Bello, disclosed this during the Kano State Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) Immunisation Budget and Accountability Scorecard and Validation Meeting, organised by the Network in Kano metropolis.
Presenting a paper titled “Overview of ZDLH Successes, Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward,” Dr. Bello said the allocation of over ₦350 million in 2023, ₦528 million in 2024, and ₦1 billion in 2025 clearly reflects the Kano State Government’s resolve to strengthen routine immunisation and improve child health outcomes.
He, however, appealed to the state government to ensure the timely release of the approved funds, stressing that prompt disbursement is critical to sustaining effective implementation of immunisation programmes and reaching zero-dose children.
Also presenting a paper on the Draft 2025 Immunisation Scorecard, Akibu Hamisu of the Africa Health Budget Network explained that the organisation’s monitoring mechanism on routine immunisation and budget tracking had identified both successes and challenges contributing to zero-dose cases and missed vaccinations.
According to him, the mechanism also tracks how immunisation funds are utilised and supports evidence-based corrective measures to improve coverage and accountability.
Hamisu, acknowledged the contributions of the Kano State Government, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), AFENET, and other partners for their strong support, which he said has contributed to the impressive performance recorded under the ZDLH project and routine immunisation efforts across the state.
In his remarks, the Core Chair, Community of Practice on Immunisation (CoPI), Salisu Yusuf, said the meeting provided a platform to review partners’ roles in health budget accountability, strengthen immunisation financing, and assess successes and challenges recorded over the past two years of the project.
He added that the discussions also outlined strategic directions and priorities for sustaining gains and improving child healthcare delivery in the coming year, 2026.
