By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State Commissioner Ministry of Budget Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination Amina Katagum has noted that budget line for immunization is embedded in the budget of the implementing Ministry, Department and Agency.
Amina Katagum was responding to a request by the Bauchi State Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (CoP) request for a budget line for immunization following the end of the basket funds for immunization in the state during a follow up advocacy to the Ministry by members of the CoP.
Represented by the permanent secretary Jibrin Yusuf Mohammed the commissioner said the ministry of open for collaboration while pledging to work for release of budgeted immunization funds
The Focal person of African Health Budget Network (AHBN) Dr Hassan Shuaibu Musa said the follow up visit was to discuss the 870 million naira budget allocation for immunization in the 2025 State budget.
He said the State budget for 2023 and 2024 indicated a deliberate increase in the budget for health inline with the Abuja declaration.
The focal person went further to State that the financial component under the immunization MOU elapsed in 2024 and thus the CoP want to ensure that the monies captured under immunization in the for 2025 is actually seen in the signed budget.
“We are at this ministry to strengthen AHBNs collaboration and partnership with a view to leveraging on the activities of the CoP to ensure increased budgetary release that is timely while entrusting the principle of sustainable accountability to immunization financing”.
Dr Hassan Shuaibu said AHBN is working in Bauchi and Ganjuwa Local Government areas where findings has shown that government is doing well in immunization funding but there are still gaps in the area of monitoring and supervision.
Co- chair of the Bauchi State Zero dose learning hub community of practice Jinjiri Garba said the aim of the follow up visit is to stressed the importance on the need for government to breach the funding gaps on immunization.
The African Health Budget Network (AHBN) is implementing Nigeria Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) in consortium with African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), State Primary Health Care Boards with technical support from Gavi.
