By Lizzy Carr
The African Health Budget Network (AHBN) has presented its flagship publication, the Bauchi State 2025 Immunization Financing Scorecard, to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Health as part of efforts to strengthen immunization financing and accountability in the state.
The presentation, which also featured key resources from the Zero Dose Learning Hub, highlights AHBN’s continued push for evidence-based reforms within Nigeria’s public health system.
Representing AHBN, Dr Hassan Shuaibu Musa conveyed a message from the organization’s Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, urging the Bauchi State Government to utilize the scorecard’s findings to deepen commitment, increase budgetary allocations, and strengthen accountability for immunization programmes.
Dr. Musa described the scorecard as a practical roadmap for closing financing gaps and ensuring that every eligible child in Bauchi State receives life-saving vaccines.
The 2025 Immunization Financing Scorecard offers a comprehensive review of Bauchi State’s immunization budget performance, outlining key achievements, existing gaps, and priority actions. Developed through extensive data analysis and stakeholder consultations, the report aligns with national and global targets to reduce the number of zero-dose children—those who have not received any routine vaccines.
As part of the engagement, AHBN also handed over selected publications from the Zero Dose Learning Hub, including technical toolkits on zero-dose strategies, innovative financing approaches, and programme monitoring frameworks designed to support policymakers in expanding routine immunization coverage.
In a related advocacy visit, Dr. Musa met with the Permanent Secretary of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Dauda Yakubu, and the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics. He stressed the need for sustained, evidence-driven budgeting and stronger multi-sectoral collaboration to improve domestic financing for vaccines and cold-chain systems.
Copies of the scorecard and accompanying materials were formally presented to the Ministry for onward distribution to relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to promote widespread use across the state’s health sector.
AHBN noted that the initiative comes at a critical period as Nigeria continues to grapple with immunization financing pressures and the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. The network expressed confidence that the scorecard will support more informed policy decisions ahead of Bauchi State’s next health budgeting cycle.
