Connect with us

News

New Incentive enroll over 450,000 infants for Immunization, expends N1.2b

Published

on

Nasiru Yusuf

   

New Incentive Enroll Over 450,000 Infants for Immunization, Expends 1.2 Billion in Nigeria as All Babies Are Equal (ABAE) said the program which aim to reduce child mortality through cost-effective and evidence-based health intervention said it has enrolled over 450,000 infants whose caregivers have received over 1.2 billion naira in conditional cash transfer between 2017 to date.

KANO FOCUS reports that ABAE disburses cash incentives to caregivers conditional on infants receiving five vaccines: BCG (against tuberculosis), PENTA (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b), PCV (against pneumococcal disease), and MCV 1&2 (against measles).

As a result of the cash transfers which compensate for transport, lost trading income, and waiting time while creating behavioural change through awareness of routine immunizations, an independent impact assessment of NI-ABAE’s CCTs for RI program (2017 – 2020) found that the program increases the likelihood that children would be fully immunized by 27 percentage points, and increases rates of individual vaccinations by 14 to 21 percentage points.

In a communique issued on the recent visit of the National Partners of New Incentive-All Babies Are Equal Initiative monitoring visit to Katsina and Jigawa it said, beyond vaccination, the assessment found that the program contributed to improved knowledge about vaccination among caregivers in the catchment areas served by the program.

The NGO’s partnerships with relevant Government agencies in the health sector both at national, state and local government levels, help to improve demand generation for routine immunization and other supply-side supports for the routine immunization system.

And that NI-ABAE has received commitments of over $29 million of funding over the next 3 years to reach over 1 million caregivers and their infants in Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Bauchi,Gombe and Kano States.

This covers expansion to 65 LGAs inclusive of the current 27 intervening LGAs with continued operations through December 2024.

Resolutions contained in the communique signed on the 10th day of February 2022 by:

Edward Iyamu – Senior Scientific Officer Child Health Division, Federal Ministry of Health

Adetokunboh Aderoju – National Co-responsibility Officer, National Cash Transfer Office.

Gabriel Ikechuckwu – Monitoring and Evaluation Division Federal Ministry of Health

Ugwuegbu Ifeoma Augustina. – Chief Health Education Officer Health Promotion Division Federal Ministry of Health

Zara Shettima- Assistant Chief Executive Officer (General Duty) – Research and Knowledge Management Division Federal Ministry of Health and others reads;

“The New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal Initiative will continue to align its programs and policies including routine immunization plans and priorities with the Government of Nigeria at all levels.

Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions, saving 2 to 3 million lives yearly (WHO). Evidence suggests that a 27 percentage points increase in the likelihood that children will be fully immunized by a Conditional Cash Transfer for routine immunization program (NI-ABAE RCT Impact Assessment 2017-2020).

The New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal Initiative will continue to support demand creation and other components of routine immunization in the 5 States and by proxy at the national level.

New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal Initiative will continue to provide transparent and regular updates to all stakeholders and also provide support on routine immunization, health, and social protection.

The Government of Nigeria(GoN) shall continue to provide the enabling environment to the NI-ABAE program at all levels, provide the needed support to ensure the expansion of the NI-ABAE program, ensure adequate vaccine supply and human resources for health in all health facilities.

The GoN shall engage all relevant state actors to ensure successful Conditional Cash Transfer programming, accountability among health workers including proper reporting of vaccine utilisation and routine immunization coverage.

States to adopt and adapt Models demonstrated by Katsina & Jigawa to scale-up RI intervention”.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Headlines

Emir of Rano lauds AGILE for educational intervention

Published

on

Aminu Abdullahi

 

 

The adolescent girls initiative for learning and empowerment AGILE has been described as a major catalyst to educational development.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umaru, made the indication while receiving AGILE team in his palace.

 

According to him, Kano has witnessed significant progress in girl child education facilitated by AGILE, hence the need for traditional institutions and relevant stakeholders to contribute their quota to achieve the desired objectives.

 

He noted that, Rano Emirate has been at the forefront of ensuring enrollment retention and completion of girls education through various initiatives.

 

The emir called on the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) to upgrade the girls school in his community.

 

The monarch said, the school, located beside the palace, requires expansion to accommodate a larger number of students.

 

The traditional ruler suggested that AGILE should visit the school to assess its condition, saying that, relocating the school to a bigger location had been earlier considered.

 

In his remarks the permanent secretary Kano state ministry of education Alhaji Bashir Baffa explained that, they were at the palace to seek for support and blessings form the royal father.

 

He said, AGILE has fostered an enabling environment for girls through promoting behavioral changes through communication campaigns engagement with traditional rulers and advocacy.

 

He maintained that, the team has embarked on advocacy visits to all relevant stakeholders at community and state levels on the importance of girls education.

 

Alhaji Baffa hinted that the state government had declared a state of emergency on education, hence the need for the traditional institution to contribute its quota to achieve the desired objectives.

 

He posited that, the team will visit the school to see possible ways of intervening for the development of education.

 

The permanent secretary also used the opportunity to condole Rano emirate over the killing of its indigenes in Uromi.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that, earlier the team has paid a similar visit to Karaye Emirate council as part of efforts to advocate for support from the traditional institution and relevant stakeholders.

 

Continue Reading

Headlines

Kano AGILE renovates 1,300 schools, enrolls 30,000 girls in three years

Published

on

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim 

 

The Kano State Ministry of Education’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, supported by the World Bank, has successfully renovated over 1,300 senior and junior secondary schools in the state in the last three years.  

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the state commissioner for education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, disclosed this during a visit to the Karaye Emirate on Tuesday.

 

He added that the AGILE program has enrolled more than 30,000 girls through targeted outreach, grants, and its Second Chance education initiative.

 

Makoda further revealed that the state government has finalized plan to construct 130 new schools in rural communities, with over 35,000 girls already benefiting from financial assistance under the scheme.

 

He urged the Karaye Emirate to lend full support to the program and prioritize girls’ education.

 

In his remarks, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Maharaz, pledged the emirate’s commitment to advancing girls’ education in Kano State.

 

He commended the state government and the commissioner for their dedication to the programme’s success.

 

“It is our collective responsibility to support this initiative,” the Emir stated, calling for measures to ensure beneficiaries complete their education with strong academic outcomes.

 

The commissioner’s delegation consist of the Kano State AGILE Project Coordinator, Malam Mujitapha Aminu and other members of State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU).

Continue Reading

Headlines

BUK Faculty of Education celebrates 50 years anniversary, launches Alumni Association

Published

on

 

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim 

 

Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Monday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Faculty of Education and inaugurated its Alumni Association at the Convocation Arena of the university’s new campus.  

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the event was graced by government officials, education stakeholders, and alumni all gathered to commemorate the faculty’s contributions to Nigeria’s educational sector.

 

In her keynote address, the State Minister for Education, Mrs. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad announced the Federal Government’s Sector Renewal Initiative designed to transition Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

 

She highlighted that the aim of the renewal initiative consists of – Reducing the number of out-of-school children; combating learning poverty; nhancing skills development and human capital for the labor market

 

The minister noted that the initiative prioritizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Digital literacy and education quality assurance.

 

Mrs. Ahmad disclosed that the Federal Government had disbursed ₦35 billion to 261 beneficiaries under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with BUK among the top beneficiaries.

 

“So far, the scheme has received 420 applications, and we are scaling up investments,” she stated.

 

She further confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦120 billion to boost TVET programs, with plans to train 650 youths in technical, vocational, and digital skills over the next two years.

 

Emeritus Professor Sani Ahmad Sufi, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, praised the faculty for its high-quality graduates.

 

“Our pride lies not just in the number of graduates produced yearly, but in their impact across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

 

He added that the faculty has produced Nigeria’s largest pool of graduate teachers many of whom hold key positions nationally and internationally.

 

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje applauded the faculty for its significant role in advancing education in Nigeria.

 

The event concluded with awards presented to distinguished alumni and supporters of the faculty in recognition of their contributions to its growth.

Continue Reading

Trending