By Iliya Kure
Stakeholders on Immunisation from three states of Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara have resolved to ensuring provision of adequate vaccines and strengthening routine Immunisation in their respective states.
They have also committed to ensuring accountability and discipline among health workers, as well as periodic assessment and improvement of the cold chain system to ensure vaccine efficacy.
They made the commitment at a joint stakeholder review meeting in Kano, organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation, New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal Initiative (NI-ABAE), in collaboration with the three states.
In a communique signed by Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Yakubu Nuhu, Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, Yahaya Kanoma, representative of Permanent Secretary of Jigawa State Ministry of Health, Kabir Ibrahim, among others, the participants agree to work closely together for wider immunisation coverage in the Northwest region of the country.
Speaking with journalists, Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Yakubu Nuhu, who lauded the innovative approach of NI-ABAE in promoting immunisation in the region said, the effort was yielding positive results.
“We’ve seen some changes in the indices, by giving just a token of N500 to mothers for each of the first four immunisations, and a token of N2,000 during the fifth immunisation. It had boosted the morale of mothers who are now bringing their babies for immunisation.
“There has been a 30% increase in the rate at which women seek for immunisation for their children, as well as seeking Antenatal Care (ANC). Also, there is need for a sustainability plan for this program in order to encourage women to continuously seek for antenatal care and also bring their children for immunisation,” he said.
The Commissioner who pledged the support of his Ministry in all programmes of NI-ABAE in the state, added that Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has personally demonstrated commitment and interest on the programme by becoming its champion in the region.
Shedding more light, Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, Yahaya Kanoma, said the meeting focused on reviewing immunisation activities, as well as agreeing on steps towards attaining improved coverage in the three states.
“Advocacy and sensitisation in collaboration with relevant civic organisations and the media would ensure a wider reach. Traditional leaders and religious institution are key partners which would be leveraged on, in order to have more acceptance at the grass roots level,” Kanoma said.
The Commissioner also pledged to facilitate a meeting between the Governor of Zamfara State and NI-ABAE, as well as encourage the Governor to present the NI-ABAE programme gains and successes at the federal level.
In a remark, National Coordinator of NI-ABAE, Dr Obinna Ebirim described giving incentives to mothers who take their babies for immunization as a major tool in increasing the acceptability of vaccination by parents, especially at the grass root.
“Since the implementation of the program from 2017 in the selected states, about 300,000 beneficiaries have been enrolled and have received over N900m in direct cash disbursement, which have been monitored by our auditors, and other officials.
“Last year, we were in 98 clinics, but we recently moved to over 450 clinics in the states and hope to reach all local government areas in the states” Ebirim explained.
Speaking on objective of the joint stakeholders meeting, Mr Ebirim said, “we felt it is important to bring the stakeholders together and inform them about the successes, challenges and way forward.”
NI-ABAE works closely with State Ministries of Health (SMOHs), State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDAs), and State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centres (SERICCs) in Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara States to improve demand generation for routine immunisation and other supply-side supports for the routine immunisation system.
The Organisation disburses cash incentives to caregivers on conditions that infants receiving four vaccines, namely BCG (against tuberculosis), PENTA (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b), PCV (against pneumococcal disease), and MCV (against measles).
Upon confirmation of an infant receiving a vaccine, the caregiver receives ₦500 for the first four routine immunisation visits and ₦2,000 for the fifth visit. The cash transfers are meant to compensate for transport, lost trading income, and waiting time.
An independent impact assessment carried out on the CCTs for RI program (2017 – 2020) found that the program increases the likelihood that children would be fully immunised by 27 percentage points, and increases rates of individual vaccinations by 14 to 21 percentage points.
Aside immunisation, the assessment found that the program contributed to improved knowledge about vaccination among caregivers in the areas it served.
Based on successes recorded, NI-ABAE has secured additional $16.8 million of funding to reach over 600,000 caregivers and their infants over the next 3 years through more than 2,700,000 conditional cash transfers in at least 17 LGAs of Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara States.