COV/USMAN MZ, JIGAWA
Over 110,000 Caregivers in Jigawa state have benefited from Cash Transfer for Routine Immunization Initiative funded by a Non-Governmental Organisation known as All Babies Are Equal.
The Stakeholders Relationship Director of the Organisation, Mallam Nura Muhammad stated this during a courtesy visit to Governor Badaru Abubakar at the government house, Dutse.
He explained that the program was using cash incentives to encourage mothers and the less privileged families to take their children for routine Immunization.
According to him, caregivers receives N500 for each of the first four routine immunization visit and N2,000 for the the fifth Immunization.
Mallam Nura Muhammad said that the cash transfer initiative contributed to increase of routine Immunization coverage with 26% from the commencement of the program in 2018 to 2020.
He explained that the initiative had impacted positively in four selected local government areas in the state.
The Director urged the Jigawa state government to advocate and promote cash transfer incentives for routine Immunization to Nigerian Governors Forum NGF.
Mallam Nura noted that, the organisation was optimistic, if routine Immunization coverage increased in the north and nigeria at large, saying that the National Indices for child mortality rate would certainly drop down.
Responding, Governor Badaru described the Initiative as classical example of Human Capital Development Investment that could enhance social and economic development of any given society.
He promised to keep collaborating with All Babies Are Equal and other donor partners to improve public healthcare services delivery for sustainable social and economic development in the state.
Reports from the state ministry of health revealed that, as a result of series of interventions, effective strategy and collaboration with partners and other stakeholders the state has a dramatic change in immunization coverage from 7% in 2012 to 93% in 2020.