International Women’s Day 2025: Kano CoP Urges Mothers and Caregivers to Prioritize Child Immunization
By Safiya Usman
As the world marks International Women’s Day 2025, the Kano State Community of Practice (CoP) on Immunization Budget Tracking and Accountability has called on mothers and caregivers to ensure their children receive life-saving immunizations. The appeal was made in alignment with this year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
The CoP, a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) and government officials advocating for child health under the AFENET/AHBN Zero-Dose Learning Hub project, emphasized the need for urgent action to reduce the number of unvaccinated children in Kano State.
Immunization Challenges in Kano State
Despite ongoing efforts, immunization coverage in Kano remains low, with only 35.8% of children receiving basic vaccines, according to the 2023-24 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The state is home to 15 out of the 100 local government areas (LGAs) with the highest burden of zero-dose children in Nigeria.
This immunization gap has contributed to frequent outbreaks of preventable diseases, such as the 2023 diphtheria outbreak, which resulted in numerous deaths and drained vital resources that could have been used for development projects.
Studies conducted by organizations such as AFENET, McKinsey, dRPC, and Save the Children identified several barriers to immunization uptake, including:
Lack of awareness and misinformation
Religious and cultural beliefs
Fear of vaccine side effects
Financial constraints
Poor health-seeking behavior
Additionally, an analysis by the CoP on immunization funding in Kano State highlighted inadequate budget allocations and delayed fund releases, further hampering immunization efforts.
Call to Action
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the CoP is urging mothers and caregivers to take their children to nearby health facilities, outreach centers, or immunization campaigns to protect them from deadly and disabling diseases.
The coalition is also advocating for increased investment in immunization by both the state government and development partners. Strengthening funding and accountability mechanisms, they argue, will enhance the health sector’s capacity and contribute to Kano’s long-term socio-economic development.
About AHBN and the Zero-Dose Learning Hub Project
The African Health Budget Network (AHBN) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing health investment, transparency, and accountability across Africa through budget advocacy. In collaboration with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the Nigerian government, the AHBN is implementing the Zero-Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) project in Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Borno States to address immunization gaps and improve child health outcomes.
The Community of Practice (CoP) on Immunization Budget Tracking and Accountability serves as an advocacy and accountability platform, bringing together CSOs, government officials, and the media to push for better immunization policies and funding in Kano and other target states.
As Nigeria commemorates International Women’s Day, stakeholders emphasize that empowering women includes ensuring their children receive the protection they need through vaccination.
