The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), through its Community of Practice (CoP) on Immunization, has organized a validation workshop on the 2025 Immunization Budget and Accountability Scorecard in Kano State.
The scorecard development is part of activities under the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) project, jointly implemented by AHBN and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), with funding support from GAVI.
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Speaking at the event, the State Team Lead of the CoP ZDLH, Dr. Musa Bello, highlighted the significant achievements recorded since the commencement of the project.
According to him, the initiative has led to an increase in state immunization budget allocation and releases for two consecutive years (2024–2025), as well as improved Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) disbursement to Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
Dr. Bello further disclosed that the project has facilitated the formation of a multi-stakeholder Community of Practice, quarterly reviews of the state’s immunization financing situation, and intensive advocacy efforts, including 45 advocacy visits, sustained media campaigns, and strategic engagement with legislators, which contributed to budget approvals and strengthened oversight functions.
He added that enhanced collaboration among key ministries Women Affairs, Budget and Economic Planning, and Health has improved gender and social protection mainstreaming, while also boosting mothers’ and caregivers’ satisfaction with routine immunization services.
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Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Co-chair of the CoP, Malam Salisu Yusuf, said the validation meeting was convened to present an overview of achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and the way forward in ensuring sustainable immunization financing in the state.
He urged members of the Community of Practice and other stakeholders to sustain the momentum in order to ensure that children are fully immunized and communities adequately protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Malam Salisu noted that the CoP had visited several communities across the state to ensure effective implementation of interventions, which yielded positive outcomes and informed the development of the scorecard aimed at helping Kano State achieve zero-dose-free status.
The AHBN Technical Adviser, Comrade Akibu Hamisu, presented the draft immunization budget and accountability scorecard, after which participants reviewed, scrutinized, and made inputs and recommendations to strengthen the document and ensure it meets its intended objectives.
The event, tagged “Kano State Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) 2025 Immunization Budget and Accountability Scorecard Validation Meeting,” attracted a large turnout of participants, including civil society organizations, government officials, media practitioners, and other key stakeholders in the health sector.