From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
The Kano State government on Wednesday said it approved the sum of N320,760,950 for Routine Immunisation in 2017.
This was made known by the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, at the 2017 Child Health Memorandum of Understanding signing by Kano, Yobe, Dangote and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations at the Kano government house.
Mr Ganduje said the state government had recorded a remarkable achievement in the area of Routine Immunisation, RI, between 2012 and 2016 when it first signed the MoU with Dangote and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations.
He affirmed that his administration has put machineries in place to succeed in the current partnership, adding that the state ministry of health was up and doing in providing facilities and equipment in that regard.
“94% of our hospital wards are equipped with functional solar refrigerators and in a week time, it will increase to 100%.
“This MoU is to strengthen the Primary Healthcare Services in the area of child health. In 2012 we signed this MoU and a lot has been achieved. This year, we hope it would be more successful,” Mr Ganduje said.
Mr Ganduje expressed gratitude to the Gates and Mr Dangote for extending their aids beyond polio to child health this year.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Gate, who spoke through a live video on Skype platform, commended both Mr Ganduje and Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State on their commitment to Routine Immunisation.
“Our last partnership was fruitful. I hope this time around it would be better. Like Gaidam, despite security challenges in the northeast region of Nigeria but he was able to achieve tremendously on Routine Immunisation.
“I appreciate all of you. It is great to see your engagement and I hope to see more in 2017. Let me also commend the emirate council for their part in the Routine Immunisation. I assure you that there will be quality immunisation processes,” he said.
Also in a remark, Mr Dangote urged the two governors to ensure financial accountability in their respective local governments.
He also expressed concern over the inability to achieve data quality, citing example of the meeting he had with governors on polio last year, saying “the meeting was solely on data quality as that is the only way to ensure transparency and accountability.”
It was a tripartite partnership between the Kano and Yobe States and Dangote and Bill and Melinda Gate Foundations where each state would contribute 20%, while the two foundations donate 40% each to achieve 100% funding on RI.
