Jigawa state government says immunisation uptake has increased from seven per cent in 2016 to 49 per cent in 2021.
The Director of Primary Health Care in Jigawa State, Dr. Shehu Sambo, stated this in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital during the two-day media dialogue and field trip on ‘Strengthening PHC systems organised by UNICEF and the Child Rights Information Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Information.
He said the MoU was signed in 2022 between the Jigawa State Government, the Federal Government, the Nigeria Governors Forum, Gavi, and UNICEF to improve routine immunisation, and PHC systems, and reduce deaths, particularly among women and children.
Sambo explained that while the MoU was signed with GAVI, UNICEF is the vehicle used to convey funds from GAVI to the state.
He noted that one of the strategies adopted in increasing the immunisation uptake is strengthening the task force on PHC through strong leadership and governance.
The Jigawa state Director of Primary Health Care said the state government is working tirelessly, noting that they have brought more outreach on immunisation, and health ambassador innovation, among others into the state.
He noted that the funding from Gavi gave them more funding to engage midwives and train frontline healthcare workers to deliver the needed services to all the hard-to-reach areas across the state.