In a major milestone following the Lagos Declaration from the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) Legislative Retreat, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Dr. Amos Gwamna Magaji, has led a strategic oversight and advocacy mission to Borno State one of four key ZDLH focus states.
The high-level visit marks the first official engagement by the National Assembly in assessing the burden of zero-dose children, those who have never received any routine immunisation in these priority states.
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Other delegation members include Dr. Adamu Alhassan Umar, ZDLH/AHBN Borno Team Lead, who was warmly received by Borno State’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Baba Malam Gana, along with other key stakeholders.
The delegation engaged in robust discussions on the state’s immunisation gaps, implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), and broader health sector reforms.
According to Mr. Amos, the visit is also part of their ongoing legislative oversight on critical healthcare delivery issues nationwide.
“We are focusing on two key areas: evaluating states with high numbers of zero-dose children and monitoring the release and utilisation of the BHCPF”
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He noted that the case of children who have never received any routine immunisation is a matter of urgent national concern.
The delegation toured healthcare facilities and visited the Borno State University College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, accompanied by the Governor of Borno State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
A major highlight of the visit was the presentation of the 2024 Immunisation Budget Accountability Scorecard, which emphasised ZDLH’s commitment to evidence-based advocacy in Nigeria’s immunisation agenda.
Lawmakers pledged to champion the timely disbursement of the BHCPF by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and called for an increase in the national consolidated revenue allocation for health from 1% to 2%, in line with global best practices.
The team also paid a courtesy visit to Alh. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the Shehu of Borno.
Similarly, Mr. Amos witnessed a groundbreaking healthcare intervention by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH)
Zulum donated N1 billion to support kidney transplants at the hospital during a brief ceremony.
He commended Governor Zulum for the intervention, while asserting his commitment to supporting initiatives that transform lives and strengthen the healthcare system.
During the ceremony, UMTH commissioned several projects, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Medical ICT Centre, Interventional Radiology Unit, Prof. Jibril Aminu Heart Centre and Stroke & Neuroscience Centre, also named after the Shehu of Borno
Other projects are Amb. Babagana Kingibe MRI Unit and Linear Accelerator, donated by Chief Emeka Offor.
This mission highlights the growing momentum for legislative and policy action to reduce the number of zero-dose children in Nigeria and strengthen primary healthcare delivery nationwide.