The Sokoto State Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) Community of Practice (CoP) has called on the Sokoto State Government to release funds allocated for immunization activities in other to reduce the number of zero dose children in the state.
The call was made by the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) State Focal Person, Mallam Umar Kadi during the CoP Quarterly Review Meeting held on Saturday, October 18 at Sokoto Guests Inn.
In his remarks, the Coordinator of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba highlighted that the CoP quarterly review meeting is aimed at assessing the outcomes of the advocacy visits conducted by the CoP, identifying the next steps on zero dose reduction and review of the 2023/2024 Immunization budget scorecard.
Dr. Magashi further commended the Sokoto State government for the significant increase in the health sector budget allocation particularly Immunization and also announced plans to populate the 2025 Immunization budget scorecard before the end of the year.
He urged the CoP members to dedicate and commit their energy and expertise to populating the 2025 immunization budget scorecard and to also come up with targeted advocacies to ensure the government’s commitment towards the release of immunization and MoU funds to ensure every child is immunized.
During his presentation of the Sokoto State 2023/2024 immunization budget scorecard, the AHBN ZDLH State Focal Person in person of Mallam Umar Garba Kadi, highlighted the budget summary of 2023/2024 which shows a significant increase in the budget allocation to the health sector particularly immunization but sadly there was no release which hindered the smooth running of the routine immunization which targets children under the age of 0-3 months.
Mallam Kadi also highlighted the content of the scorecard where he mentioned the four categories of the scorecard namely; budget summary, health financing and accountability, service delivery and transparency and lastly, recommendations.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Bilyaminu Yari Sifawa who was represented by the Assistant Director of Disease and Immunization Control, Mallam Umar Faruk, commended AHBN and the CoP members for prioritizing the health of the Sokoto children.
Similarly, the Co- chair of the Sokoto State CoP, Nasir Abubakar who was also represented by Yahaya Ibrahim Kaura, urged CoP members to actively participate and share ideas to ensure every child in Sokoto is immunized thereby reducing the high burden of zero-dose children in the state.
