KADUNA- The Kaduna State Government has lauded Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and other development partners for their crucial support in strengthening immunisation efforts within the state.
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, gave the commendation when the team from GAVI Nigeria visited.
She highlighted the collaborative success in improving immunisation coverage and preventing disease outbreaks.
The partnership, particularly with the World Health Organisation (WHO), she said has been instrumental in these advancements.
GAVI alliance is a public-private partnership comprised of various organisations including UNICEF, WHO, Gates Foundation, amongst others.
“The partnership has expanded immunisation coverage, strengthened health infrastructure, and enhanced data systems, resulting in healthier children and stronger families, with visible impact in communities,”she said.
She noted that challenges persist in remote and security-challenged areas, however expressing confident that the partnership would provide necessary innovation and technical strength to overcome them.
The deputy governor said the Kaduna state Government believed in collaboration and would continue investing in primary healthcare facilities, innovative technologies, and community engagement to build trust and improve health outcomes.
She expressesed gratitude for the partners’ unwavering support and shared commitment to ensuring every child has a healthy start in life, wishing them a productive engagement.
The Senior Country Manager for GAVI in Nigeria, Jessica Crawford, reaffirmed the organisation’s mission to save lives and improve health by increasing access to life-saving vaccines.
She stated that GAVI, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Kaduna State Government, is working to meet the state’s healthcare needs.
On the challenge of zero-dose children who have not received any vaccines, Crawford said GAVI was ready to support alliance partners working in affected local government areas to boost routine immunisation performance.
She also lauded the Kaduna state government for its strong leadership and improved immunisation coverage.
In his remarks, the Head of Routine Immunisation at the NPHCDA, Dr Hassan Ousmane, said the federal government is committed to ensuring that the support provided by GAVI is properly utilised to achieve the overall goal of expanding immunisation coverage.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of Vaccine Immunisation and Desk Officer for GAVI Nigeria, Dr Barkunawa Garba, explained that the purpose of the visit was to increase the number of children receiving routine immunisation and to address the challenge of reducing the number of zero-dose children in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the team’s visit to the Mando Primary Health Care Centre provided firsthand insight into ongoing efforts and challenges, further reinforcing the need for sustained collaboration to strengthen the state’s immunisation system.(NAN)
