Abubakar H. Muhammad (9News Nigeria Northeast)
The Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH), a health initiative working on enhancing immunization on infants and young children, has held its quarterly review meeting in Maiduguri.
Under its Community of Practice (CoP) on Immunization Budget Tracking, Accountability and Sustainability, the meeting is part of ZDLH’s strategy to develop it’s operations, while targeting zero dose children and missed communities in Borno State.
At Amada International Hotels Maiduguri, the venue of the event on Friday, ZDLH presented an overview of its 2023 and 2024 scorecard, as well as the commencement of 2025 scorecard collection.
It also highlighted key engagements with religious and local leaders in the preceding years, a strategy aimed at enhancing advocacy on acceptance of immunization among communities.
The meeting also featured media engagement with journalists on partnership and how to develop and enhance media advocacy around immunization and CoP related activities.
According to Dr. Adamu Alhassan, official of CoP, the media is a key runner and at the heart of their campaign against rejection of immunization in local communities.
He said that, resistance to accept vaccination is still a major challenge in their operation, noting that without media campaign and advocacy, immunization workers would continue to suffer rejection.
A panel discussion with media stakeholders was held to discuss roles, challenges, partnership and way forward among journalists in the state and CoP members.
Earlier in his remarks, the chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Borno State Chapter, Abdulkareem Haruna, has acknowledged the role of CoP and their contribution to development healthcare services in Nigeria.
Through their engagement with the media, the NUJ chair said that Practice has achieved a lot in reducing zero dose immunization in Borno.
While reaffirming NUJ’s commitment and support to healthcare activities in the state, Mr. Haruna also called on CoP to strengthen its partnership with the media.
Healthcare practitioners and development partners among other stakeholders also contributed during discussions at the meeting.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, (ES) Borno State Primary Health Care Development Board, Prof. Mohammed Arab Alhaji, said that the Community of Practice is yeilding positive results in thee state.
Represented by Dr. Mala Abdulwahab, the ES disclosed that, so far, there is a reduction of 50% zero dose children in Borno State.
Also part of the program is an award presentation to healthcare providers for their exceptional service delivery across parts of the state.
