Abuja, 31 January 2018 - With a view to improving routine immunization (RI) services, major stakeholders including the Executive Governors of Borno and Kano states, World Health Organization (WHO)  Representative  to Nigeria, Mr Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote converged separately in Maiduguri and Kano on 29 and 30 January 2018 respectively to review RI performance in 2017. 

In Borno, the  Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia stated “some milestones achieved between July and December 2017 included improved community participation in RI activities  evidenced by 98% involvement of traditional leaders ,construction of the northern zone satellite store and the commencement of RI in some previously inaccessible wards thus, increasing the number of wards offering RI in Borno state to 84%”. 

Similarly, his counterpart in Kano, Dr Kabir Getso, revealed that all district and village heads have been oriented on enhanced community engagement strategy. He however noted that caregivers’ fears, mistrust and negative health workers attitude are major issues affecting immunization uptake, as evidenced by recent RI Lot Quality Assurance survey (LQAs) results in all local government areas (LGAs). 
During both meetings, WHO Representative (WR) to Nigeria, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to the government’s efforts, stating that the organization has aligned its support into the one-state plan for both states and also within the emergency response framework for the north-east. 

“WHO is committed to maintaining its current approach of responding to R in the north-east as an emergency to ensure that the underserved populations and others in partially accessible and accessible locations are reached with the needed health services they deserve,” said Dr Alemu. 

In separate responses, His Excellency, Governor Kashim Shettima Ibrahim of Borno and His Excellency Dr Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano appreciated the support from WHO, Dangote and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations  towards the holistic approach to improving lives of Nigerians, not only in health humanitarian support but also in agriculture and economy. They reassured of state governments commitment in keeping with the RI MoU. 

Reacting to presentations from Borno and Kano through video conference, Mr Bill Gates stressed that it would be useful to further gather information to underscore why RI services are not provided in accessible areas and reasons for low demand for immunization.   

In January 20, 2016, six northern governors, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the founder of Microsoft, Mr. Bill Gates and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to strengthen RI in the region to ensure that target populations are immunized with appropriate quality vaccines based on Nigeria’s routine immunization schedule

At the two locations, WR presented a total of 82 motorcycles and 44 mobile phones with support from donors, towards state governments’ efforts to further enhance surveillance and build highly sensitive and robust system to rapidly detect and respond to diseases of epidemic potential. 

The Emir of Kano, Shehu of Bama in Borno state, principal functionaries from BMGF and Dangote Foundation as well as National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, WHO and UNICEF personnel, attended the review meetings and presentation ceremonies.

Technical contacts:

Dr Fiona Braka; Tel: +234 703 170 5252; Email:  brakaf [at] who.int (brakaf[at]who[dot]int)