BY: NEWS EDITOR

The Borno State Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (CoP) conducted a facility-based immunization budget tracking, accountability, and sustainability exercise in two Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in Maiduguri Local Government Area (MMC LGA).

The exercise aimed to evaluate immunization finance utilization, accountability, and sustainability.

Led by Dr. Adamu Alhassan Umar, AHBN Zero Dose Learning Hub State Focal Person, the team visited Herwa PHC and Gamboru PHC, classified as high and low performing, respectively, in terms of Routine Immunization (RI) coverage and maternal health services.

During the visit, the CoP members engaged with PHC in-charges, RI staff, coordinators, and caregivers.

Key observations from the visit revealed significant differences between the two facilities.

Herwa PHC, the high-performing facility, conducts five routine immunization fixed sessions and three outreach sessions weekly, targeting 50 children daily for pentavalent vaccine.

Additionally, the facility boasts a reliable solar-powered supply and cold chain storage.

However, Herwa PHC faces staffing challenges due to a partner's contract termination, which left the facility without medical doctors.

On the other hand, Gamboru PHC, severely affected by flooding, conducts only outreach sessions due to vandalism and infrastructure destruction.

Prior to the flood, the facility recorded 60 deliveries in one month, but since then, it has not conducted a single delivery due to lack of infrastructure and resources.

The delegation, comprising the AFENET State M&E officer, leadership of the youth, traditional and social media engagement of the CoP, and some members of the BoSPHCMB, assessed the facilities and interacted with RI unit staff to identify strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement in RI services.

This exercise seeks to ultimately reduce Zero Dose Children in Borno State by improving immunization budget tracking, accountability, and sustainability.

The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) and the Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is implementing the Gavi funded Zero dose learning hub project in Borno state with the support of the Borno state primary healthcare management board and other immunization partners in the state.