By Iliya Kure
An international Non-Governmental Organization, New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal (NI-ABAE), says it has received commitments of over $29 million of funding over the next 3 years, to ensure over 1 million infants are fully immunised through its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) project in Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Bauchi, Gombe and Kano States.
The information which was contained in a communique issued on recent Monitoring Visit of the National Partners of NI-ABAE to Katsina and Jigawa states, also says between 2017 to date, the NGO had spent over N1.2 billion in 3 states of Nigeria, providing caregivers of over 450,000 infants to take their children to hospitals for full immunisation against childhood-killer diseases.
With the additional funding, the project will now cover 65 LGAs from initial 27 LGAs under coverage through December 2024.
By project design, NI-ABAE disburses cash incentives to caregivers on the condition that infants receive five vaccines: BCG (against tuberculosis), PENTA (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b), PCV (against pneumococcal disease), and MCV 1&2 (against measles).
Upon confirmation of their infant receiving a vaccine, the caregiver receives ₦500 each for the first four routine immunisation visits, and ₦2,500 for the fifth and sixth visit.
The Cash Transfers are meant to compensate for transportation to hospital, loss of trading income, and waiting time, while creating behavioural change through awareness of routine immunisation.
An independent impact assessment of NI-ABAE’s CCTs for RI program (2017 – 2020) found that the program increases the likelihood that children would be fully immunized by 27 percentage points, and increases rates of individual vaccinations by 14 to 21 percentage points.
The communique says, beyond vaccination, the assessment found that the program contributed to improved knowledge about vaccination among caregivers in the catchment areas served by the programme.
The NGO’s partnerships with relevant Government agencies in the health sector, at national, state and local government levels, help to improve demand generation for routine immunization and other supply-side supports for the routine immunization system.
Resolutions contained in the communique signed on the 10th day of February 2022 by partners states that:
“The New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal Initiative will continue to align its programs and policies including routine immunization plans and priorities with the Government of Nigeria at all levels.
“Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions, saving 2 to 3 million lives yearly (WHO). Evidence suggests that a 27 percentage points increase in the likelihood that children will be fully immunized by a Conditional Cash Transfer for routine immunization program (NI-ABAE RCT Impact Assessment 2017-2020).
“The New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal Initiative will continue to support demand creation and other components of routine immunization in the 5 States and by proxy at the national level.
“New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal Initiative will continue to provide transparent and regular updates to all stakeholders and also provide support on routine immunization, health, and social protection.
“The Government of Nigeria (GoN) shall continue to provide the enabling environment to the NI-ABAE program at all levels, provide the needed support to ensure the expansion of the NI-ABAE program, ensure adequate vaccine supply and human resources for health in all health facilities.
“The GoN shall engage all relevant state actors to ensure successful Conditional Cash Transfer programming, accountability among health workers including proper reporting of vaccine utilisation and routine immunization coverage.
“States to adopt and adapt Models demonstrated by Katsina & Jigawa to scale-up RI intervention,” it says.
The Communique was signed by;
- Edward Iyamu – Senior Scientific Officer Child Health Division, Federal Ministry of Health
- Adetokunboh Aderoju – National Co-responsibility Officer, National Cash Transfer Office
- Gabriel Ikechuckwu – Monitoring and Evaluation Division Federal Ministry of Health
- Ugwuegbu Ifeoma Augustina. – Chief Health Education Officer Health Promotion Division Federal Ministry of Health
- Zara Shettima- Assistant Chief Executive Officer (General Duty) – Research and Knowledge Management Division Federal Ministry of Health
- Ogbonna Michael Ihechi – Senior Population Programme Officer – Health System strengthening Division Federal Ministry of Health
- Ahmed Ohunene Amina – Senior Administrative Officer Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning
- Anieheobi Frances Chinwe – Higher Executive Officer Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning
- Aminu Inuwa Mohammed – Director Programs Sultan Foundation
- Aminu Danmalam – NI-ABAE Advisor
- Nasir Ahmad Roni – CCO, North West Zonal NPHCDA Kano
- Ayodele Alegbeleye – National Partnership Officer, NI-ABAE
- Nura Muhammad – Stakeholders Relation Director, NI-ABAE
