Major stakeholders in the health sector recently converged on Maiduguri and Kano, capitals of Borno and Kano states, respectively, to review the performance of Routine Immunisation, with a view to improving services, in both states.
In his report, the Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia, noted that between July and December 2017, the state recorded improved community participation in RI activities.
He said that some of the milestones achieved during the period included the construction of the northern zone satellite store and the commencement of RI in some previously inaccessible wards.
Mshelia’s counterpart in Kano, Dr Kabir Getso, also disclosed that all district and village heads were given orientation on the enhanced community engagement strategy.
Getso identified caregivers’ fears, mistrust and the negative attitude of health workers as the major issues affecting immunisation uptake in all the local government areas in Kano State.
During both meetings, the Representative of the World Health Organisation in Nigeria, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the government’s efforts.
Stressing that WHO had aligned its support with the one-state plan for Borno and Kano and also within the emergency response framework for the North-East, he said, “WHO is committed to maintaining its current approach of responding to RI in the North-East as an emergency to ensure that the underserved populations and others in partially accessible and inaccessible locations are reached with the needed health services they deserve.”
In separate reactions, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and his Knao State counterpart, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, expressed their appreciation for the support from WHO, Dangote Fioundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation towards the comprehensive approach to improving the lives of Nigerians, not only in health humanitarian support, but also in agriculture and the economy. They gave the organisations the assurance that both state governments would remain committed to the RI Memorandum of Understanding.
Also reacting to the presentations from Borno and Kano through video conference, Mr. Bill Gates stressed that it would be useful to further gather information to underscore why RI services were not provided in accessible areas and reasons for the low demand for immunisation.
On January 20, 2016, six northern governors, entered into an MOU with the founder of Microsoft and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to strengthen RI in the region and to ensure that target populations were immunised with appropriate quality vaccines based on Nigeria’s routine immunisation schedule.
At the two locations, WR presented a total of 82 motorcycles and 44 mobile phones with support from donors, towards state governments’ efforts to further enhance surveillance and build highly sensitive and robust system to rapidly detect and respond to diseases of epidemic potential.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari El Kanemi, were among the dignitaries that attended the review meetings and presentation ceremonies.
–Culled from WHO
source http://punchng.com/stakeholders-review-mou-on-routine-immunisation-in-borno-kano/
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