Community Health Research Commends Kano State Government for releasing additional N50m for Immunization

Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) has commended Kano State Government for releasing additional N50 million to its immunization basket funding.

Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the Executive Governor of Kano State recently released additional N50m to the state’s Routine Immunization Basket funding making the funds released by the state for its immunization activities N100m out of N250m it is expected to contribute this year as part of the counterpart funding agreement for immunization in a memorandum of understanding it signed with Mr. Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

This MoU agreement and funding commitment to Immunization financing is targeted at helping the state to sustain its current polio-free status as Nigeria progresses in its final lap of polio eradication and increased coverage of immunization activities.

CHR Project Director Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba who commended the state for its commitment towards ensuring it is able to meet up with the financial requirement from the state said the release covers 40% percent of the RI funding commitment made by the state in January and is expected to release the remaining funds (N150m) which is about 60% of the state’s commitment in the MoU it signed with the philanthropists before the end of the year.

While commending the Kano State government, CHR under the auspices of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) implores the state actors and stakeholders to ensure accountable and transparent utilization of the funds to achieve adequate routine Immunization program implementation and coverage.

“if the funds are spent transparently with focus on the reasons why they are released Kano state will be able to support Nigeria to remain a polio free nation and also strengthen the final push for eradication as well as ensure all immunization activities are fully funded in the state”  said Aminu Magashi

This success in attributive to CHR/PACFaH continuous advocacy to the state for improved funding of its child and family health programs and provision of technical support to the state as well as participation in high level Routine Immunization Financing and Technical Working Groups meetings.