By Lizzy Carr
Health workers and community leaders in Ganjuwa local government area of Bauchi State have called for the construction of accomodations to house immunization officers involve in outbreak response and polio campaigns in the area as a strategy to improve immunization coverage.
They spoke when the supervision team of Bauchi State Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (CoP) visited Kafin Liman and Kafin Madaki Primary Health Care Centers in Ganjuwa LGA to conduct facility-based supervision to track Immunization budget utilization .
Ganjuwa is among the thirteen local government areas of Bauchi State with zero dose immunization which is why the Africa Health Budget Network team led by the
Coordinator Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba and Muhammad Usman paid a follow-up advocacy visit to the Member Representing Darazo/Ganjuwa federal constituency, Bauchi State in the National Assembly Mansur Manu Soro where they presented the recommendation of his people.
Mansur Manu Soro pledged to collaborate with the Local Government council to provide temporary accommodation for the workers this year while he explore constituency funding for permanent accommodation in the 2026 appropriation.
” You know the Bauchi State government had declared a state of emergency on health thus removing all administrative bottlenecks that could hinder any life saving intervention in the sector “.
The team was also paid an advocacy visit the member representing Kware /Wamakko federal constituency of Sokoto State Abdullahi Ahmad Kalambaina at the National Assembly on strengthening immunization efforts in Wamakko one of the LGAs with the highest number of Zero Dose children in Sokoto State.
The AHBN team shared updates on the Sokoto Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) and emphasized the need for stronger CSO engagement, increased immunization funding, timely fund releases, and greater government accountability to improve transparency in immunization financing.
Abdulkahi Kalambaina said he allocates funds in his constituency budget to for construction of primary health care centers in Wamakko and a laboratory for disease screening and sample collection.
” I pledge to serve as an immunization champion, committing myself to advocate for immunization funding in Sokoto State and will connect the the zero dose learning hub advocacy team with high-level political actors to advance policy implementation, ensure sufficient budget allocations, and drive effective resource utilization”.
