Zulum Moves to Sustain Immunisation Gains in Borno, After Donor Exit

Governor Babagana Zulum has assured that his administration will take full responsibility for sustaining routine immunisation and other primary healthcare programmes across the state with the expiration of Borno’s tripartite agreement with the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Speaking at a strategic meeting in Maiduguri with traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and development partners, Zulum said the government had already cleared all counterpart funding and would provide the political will needed to keep immunisation campaigns active.

“We are aware that the tripartite agreement ended in December 2024, but Borno State will not allow the gains recorded to be lost,” the governor said.

“We will ensure adequate support, funding and security, particularly for hard-to-reach areas, so that every eligible child has access to vaccines,” he said.

While urging local government chairmen to intensify mobilisation for Routine Immunisation, In-between Rounds, and the Integrated Measles Campaign, the governor also appealed to traditional rulers to continue sensitising their subjects on the benefits of vaccination.

The Executive Secretary of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Prof. Mohammed Arab Alhaji, highlighted the importance of sustaining the Seattle Declaration of 2019, where governors pledged to strengthen accountability and performance in primary healthcare delivery.

He noted that while Borno has made progress—including recruiting 859 health workers and sponsoring 1,400 students in nursing and midwifery—security and community resistance remain challenges.

Prof. Alhaji called for intensified collaboration with traditional leaders to address non-compliance with immunisation and urged measures to prevent misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).

The meeting, chaired by the Shehu of Borno and attended by senior government officials, emphasised community ownership as the next phase in sustaining immunisation after the donor exit.