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Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has directed the chairmen of the state’s 27 local government areas to intensify awareness campaigns on routine immunisation and measles prevention.
The directive was issued on Thursday during a strategic meeting with traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and development partners at the Government House in Maiduguri, focusing on primary healthcare initiatives.
Governor Zulum urged traditional leaders to sustain community sensitisation efforts, emphasising the benefits of immunisation against polio and other preventable childhood diseases.
“All local government chairmen must step up Routine Immunisation and In-Between Rounds campaigns across the state,” he stated, noting that attendance at evening review meetings is mandatory.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare centres and promised that immunisation programmes would continue despite the expiration of the tripartite agreement with the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2024.
Zulum noted that all counterpart funds had been fully paid, assuring ongoing political will and financial support to ensure efficient healthcare delivery across Borno State.
The governor also pledged adequate security to facilitate immunisation coverage in hard-to-reach communities affected by insecurity and displacement.
Highlighting progress, he revealed that 1,400 students were sponsored to study nursing and midwifery, with 500 expected to graduate before the end of the year to strengthen healthcare manpower.
Prof. Mohammed Arab-Alhaji, Executive Secretary of the Borno Primary Healthcare Development Board, briefed participants on immunisation programmes and the Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge Fund, designed to accelerate the 2019 Seattle Declaration commitment by governors to improve healthcare delivery through accountability and measurable results.
Arab-Alhaji urged stronger security measures in remote communities, increased support from traditional leaders against vaccine non-compliance, and stricter control of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) misuse.
He commended the Governor for promptly providing medicines, absorbing 859 health workers, and supporting primary healthcare infrastructure across the state.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dr Umar Kadafur, Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi, traditional rulers, state executives, and development partners.
