Agency Stakeholders in Bauchi have expressed significant concerns over the number of zero-dose children in 13 Local Government Areas and communities in the state. They expressed worry at a capacity-building workshop organized for members of the Community of Practice on immunisation budget tracking, accountability, and sustainability targeting zero-dose children organised by the Africa Health Budget Network in Bauchi. The Executive Chairman, of Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, lamented that in spite of the availability of vaccines, which are administered free of charge, 13 LGAs have recorded zero doses.
The LGAs, he said are Alkaleri ,Bauchi, Ganjuwa, Darazo, Gamawa, Itas Gadau, Katagum, Misau, Toro, Ningi, Shira and Zaki. ”Even out of the remaining seven LGAs, two are porous because they are bordering neighbouring Yobe and Jigawa,” he said. The executive chairman further noted that zero dose reduction strategies have been put in place to include periodic intensification of routine immunization, in between rounds of activities and market vaccination.
He added, “We don’t know why parents and caregivers refuse to vaccinate their children. And to address this, the Board takes the vaccination to hard-to-reach communities, at naming ceremonies and they follow nomads along their routes.” Giving an overview of the immunisation financing landscape at the state level, Mohammed said that the state government remained the main source of f.