The African Health Budget Network AHBN in consortium with the African Field Epidemiology Network ACEPEP is currently implementing the Zero Dose Learning Hub in Nigeria and has established Communities of Practice (CoP) in Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto.
The CoP will support the state governments to accelerate the progress in improving immunization coverage, particularly in reaching the Zero Dose Children, by influencing budgetary allocation, releases, and utilization using advocacy to demand accountability and transparency.
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Implementation of the Community of Practice in Kano State will support the state government and its immunization partners to continuously analyzed and track immunization budgets based on agreed indicators in line with the state-level accountability framework and the state-level MoU targets.
The Community of Practice will also review challenges and proffer key recommendations that will support accountability and transparency amongst state-level partners and continuously engage and promote coordination amongst state-level partners aimed at promoting the sustainability of immunization finances.
It will also document lessons learned periodically and disseminate through multiple platforms at state, national, regional, and global levels. This will be through publications, newspaper stories, Power Point presentations at strategic meetings, among others.
The community of practice will then use the evidence gathered above to continuously engage in targeted advocacy to policymakers, political actors, development partners, and community gatekeepers, aimed at influencing positive actions for sustainable immunization finances, such as timely releases, efficient utilization, and increased budgetary allocation.
The Community of Practice is crucial because, over the years, different immunization financing strategies have been developed and implemented to mobilize resources for vaccine procurement, distribution, and service delivery in reducing the number of Zero Dose which is presently put at 2.4 million children in Nigeria.
It is widely known that vaccines have reduced the risk of getting infected with some life-threatening diseases, in fact so many lives, particularly that of children under five, have been saved from deadly diseases.
According To the AHBN Kano State Focal Person, Dr.Musa Muhammad Bello
“We will support the State Government through the Community of Practice to improve the state immunization budget performance, thereby improving immunization activities and coverage. Money is key in addressing most of the barriers already identified for effective immunization process”
The director general Kano state primary healthcare management board SPHCMB Dr. Muhammad Nasir Mahmud, said
“We welcome Community of Practice which will support us with evidence and advocacy to continue to strengthen collaboration with our immunization partners and state-level CSOs to improve immunization coverage as well as ensure every child in Kano state is fully immunized, thereby, reducing Zero Dose children,”
The Chair Accountability Mechanism for MNCH in Kano State (AMMKAS) Malam Salisu Yusuf pointed out that,
“ I encourage, the Kano State Government to always ensure the timely release of agreed funds signed in the MoU to promote budget performance, which will positively impact zero-dose children and call on the stakeholders in the Community of Practice (CoP) to promote budget tracking, accountability, and sustainability,”
The table below shows the immunization budget in the four states, where government allocation has been fluctuating over the years, in some cases decreasing. Releases have been challenging as well. The CoP will play a vital role in pushing for these gaps to be addressed and drive domestic resource mobilization for immunization in the states.
Table: Immunization Budget (In Naira- =N=) of the four states from 2021- 2024 at a glance.
