Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has directed chairmen of all 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to scale up routine immunisation campaigns, including In-Between Rounds and the Integrated Measles campaign, as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the state.
The governor issued the directive on Thursday during a strategic meeting at the Government House, Maiduguri. The meeting, attended by traditional rulers led by the Shehu of Borno, members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and development partners, focused on updates and challenges in ongoing primary healthcare programmes.
Zulum stressed that awareness creation at the grassroots is essential for tackling polio and other preventable diseases, urging traditional leaders to continue sensitising their communities. He also mandated that LGA chairmen must attend evening review meetings, describing them as compulsory for tracking progress and resolving gaps in immunisation coverage.
“We must ensure that campaigns on routine immunisation, In-Between Rounds, and other interventions are carried out across the state. I also emphasise that evening review meetings are not optional for LGA chairmen,” the governor stated.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining immunisation and healthcare delivery despite the expiration of the tripartite agreement with the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in December 2024.
“All our counterpart funding has been paid and we are up to date. The Borno State Government will continue to provide the needed support and political will to strengthen healthcare services. Adequate security will also be provided to reach hard-to-access areas,” Zulum assured.
Highlighting the state’s investment in human resources, the governor noted that 1,400 indigent students were sponsored to study nursing and midwifery, with 500 expected to graduate before the end of the year.
Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Professor Mohammed Arab Alhaji, briefed participants on the ongoing immunisation programme and the Primary Healthcare (PHC) Leadership Challenge Fund. He explained that the initiative aims to accelerate the 2019 Seattle Declaration, where governors pledged to improve PHC delivery through accountability and measurable outcomes.
Arab also called for stronger community engagement to address resistance to polio and other immunisations, improved security in hard-to-reach areas, stricter monitoring of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), and more active participation by LGA chairmen in evening review meetings.
He commended Governor Zulum for timely counterpart funding, absorption of 859 health workers, supply of drugs and consumables, and continued investment in healthcare infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur, Chairman of the State Taskforce on Immunisation, traditional rulers including the Shehu of Borno, Shehu of Dikwa, Shehu of Bama, and Emirs of Biu, Askira Uba, Gwoza, Shani, and Uba, alongside commissioners and development partners.
