Jigawa Governor Pledges Support To Cash Transfer Routine Immunization Programme

• Presented with Merit Award as  Champion

Acknowledging the successes recorded in increasing immunization coverage and reducing infant deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases in Jigawa State, Gov. Badaru Abubakar has pledged to support an iNGO, New Initiatives in its Conditional Cash Transfer programme

 

The iNGO, known in  Nigeria as “All Babies Are Equal Initiative” is providing cash to mothers as incentives to encourage them to take their children for routine Immunization.

 

Governor Badaru who was responding to a brief during a courtesy call on him by officials of the NGO, promised to keep collaborating with them as well as   other donor partners .

 

He said such collaboration would improve public healthcare delivery for sustainable social and economic development of the state.

 

He described the activities of the  Initiative as classical example of investment in Human Capital Development that could enhance social and economic development of any given society.

 

Briefing the Governor earlier, leader of the team who is also the Stakeholders Relations Director, Mr Nura Muhammad disclosed that over 110,000 infants had been enrolled in the State for which more than #327 million provided as direct cash transfer to infant caregivers.

 

Each caregiver, he said, receives N500 for each of the first four routine immunization visits and N2,000 for the fifth immunization visit.

 

“New Incentives also supports existing routine immunization systems by engaging in vaccine supply review, supporting top up of vaccine transportation, participating in supportive supervision, capacity building of health workers and conducting vaccination advocacy with religious and traditional leaders.

 

‘There is strong evidence that our intervention is making a significant impact in increasing demand for routine immunization in the communities where we work.

“Considering the impact of the initiative at four selected pilot local government in Jigawa state, Your Excellency we urged you to advocate and promote the “Cash Transfer Incentive for Routine Immunization” program at Nigerian Governors Forum.”

“We are optimistic that, if routine immunization coverage increased in the North and Nigeria at large, the National Indices for Child Mortality rate would certainly drop down,” Nura declared

 

Revealing further, the success story of the iNGO, Nura said it was named a GiveWell Top Charity in November 2020 and based on the recommendation of GiveWell, it is being funded to the tune of $16.8 million USD over the next 3 years to reach more than 600,000 caregivers and their infants in Jigawa, Katsina, and Zamfara States

 

He urged the Governor to therefore assist the NGO in convening a joint program update meeting of Katsina, Jigawa, and Zamfara State Governors in Abuja assuring its willingness to host the meeting.

 

Nura also requested the Governor to consider becoming an advocate of Conditional Cash Transfers for Routine Immunization, especially defending conditional cash transfers programs among health stakeholders at national level.

 

The visit featured presentation of merit award by the iNGO to the Governor as CHAMPION of conditional cash transfers for routine immunization in recognition of his effort and commitment towards routine immunization and primary health care services in Jigawa state and the country at large.