By Lizzy Carr
The gender desk officer Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social welfare Zuwaira Baba has noted that gender mainstreaming, community dialogue, and stakeholder engagement are key components of the ministry’s response strategy to issues affecting women and children especially as it relates to immunization.
She stated this during an engagement meeting with members of the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) Community of Practice Bauchi at the ministry.
Zuwaira Baba describe women as critical stakeholders in issues around immunization and carrying them alongside the men will improve immunization coverage in zero dose local government areas.
” I want to assure you if the gender unit commitment to the course of addressing zero dose and will work closely with the Zero dose learning hub community of practice”.
On her part the gender officer Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board Amina Balali, emphasized the importance of male engagement and the integration of other health related activities into community dialogue.
She reaffirmed the board’s commitment to supporting immunization coordination and administration across the state.
Amina Balali assured the team of her unit’s readiness to share the Decentralised Immunisation Monitoring (DIM) and scorecard findings with relevant authorities and will work collaboratively toward addressing identified gaps.
State Focal Person of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Dr Hassan Shuaibu Musa said the advocacy visit is to deepen collaboration and drive inclusive strategies toward bridging immunization gaps, particularly among underserved and zero-dose populations in Bauchi State.
Dr. Hassan Shuaibu shared the findings from the recent Decentralized Immunization Monitoring (DIM) conducted by AFENET and the 2024 Immunization Financing Scorecard developed by AHBN.
He noted that the Gender Units in both institutions have a crosscutting responsibility to ensure equitable access to lifesaving vaccines.
