The Zannan Kano and District Head of Jogana, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that every child within his domain receives life-saving vaccines, as part of efforts to improve child health and boost immunization coverage across Kano State.
The pledge was made during an advocacy visit by the Kano Community of Practice (CoP) on Immunization, Budget Tracking, Advocacy and Accountability, in collaboration with the BOOST Project implemented by SCI with funding support from GSK.
The meeting took place at the District Head’s palace in Jogana, Gezawa Local Government Area.
The advocacy visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with traditional institutions and addressing barriers affecting routine immunization uptake, particularly the need for greater male involvement in ensuring children receive essential vaccines.
During the engagement, members of the delegation highlighted ongoing immunization policy developments in Kano State and presented findings from recent gender-focused advocacy activities. They identified spousal restriction as a major challenge, noting that some fathers prevent mothers from taking their children for routine immunization services.
The team stressed that the active participation of men, traditional rulers, and community leaders remains crucial to addressing such social barriers and improving immunization outcomes across communities.
Responding to the concerns raised, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe expressed deep concern over the welfare of vulnerable children in his domain, describing situations where some children live in unsafe conditions and lack adequate care as unacceptable.
He reaffirmed his unwavering support for immunization and announced a series of measures aimed at improving vaccine coverage. These include mobilizing the 28 village heads under his jurisdiction to identify and track children who miss vaccination appointments, strengthening community-level monitoring mechanisms to reduce immunization dropouts, and leading advocacy campaigns to encourage families to prioritize child health.
“I am committed to ensuring that every child in my domain enjoys the right to good health,” the traditional ruler stated.
As part of the visit, the advocacy team presented key health data, an advocacy brief, and a symbolic souvenir to the District Head, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based advocacy in addressing public health challenges.
The Zannan Kano commended the initiative, noting that the information shared provided valuable insights into the realities facing communities in Jogana and Gezawa. He pledged continued collaboration with development partners and stakeholders to improve health outcomes and expand access to routine immunization services.
The engagement is expected to strengthen efforts to leverage traditional leadership structures in driving demand for immunization and enhancing primary healthcare delivery. Stakeholders believe that with the support of community leaders and initiatives such as the BOOST Project, more children in Gezawa and surrounding communities will gain access to routine immunization services, helping to ensure that no child is left behind.