Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has issued a directive to all 27 Local Government Area Chairmen to intensify public awareness and implementation of key immunisation campaigns across the state.
Governor Zulum made the call during a strategic meeting with traditional rulers, local government Chairmen, and development partners at the Government House in Maiduguri.
“I hereby direct all Local Government Chairmen to step up campaigns on Routine Immunisation, In-Between Rounds, and other integrated health campaigns across the state,” Zulum said. “Attendance at evening review meetings is compulsory for all LGA Chairmen.”
He also called on traditional rulers, led by the Shehu of Borno, to continue mobilizing their communities and advocating for immunisation—particularly against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining healthcare gains made under the now-concluded tripartite agreement between the Borno State Government, Aliko Dangote Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which ended in December 2024.
“All our counterpart funding has been paid and we remain up to date,” the governor said. “We will continue to provide the needed political will and resources to ensure efficient delivery of healthcare services.”
He also pledged that the state government will provide adequate security to enable immunisation efforts reach difficult and insecure areas.
In a bid to strengthen the state’s healthcare system, Governor Zulum highlighted ongoing investments in human resources. He announced that 500 of the 1,400 indigent students sponsored to study nursing and midwifery will graduate by the end of the year.
Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Professor Mohammed Arab Alhaji, briefed the gathering on ongoing immunisation programmes and the PHC Leadership Challenge Fund, which supports the Seattle Declaration—a 2019 commitment by Nigerian governors to improve Primary Healthcare outcomes.
He emphasized the need for enhanced security in hard-to-reach areas,strengthened evening review meetings by LGA Chairmen, traditional rulers to help address non-compliance with polio and other vaccines, and curbing misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)
Arab also commended the Zulum administration for timely counterpart funding, recruitment of 859 healthcare workers, and the consistent supply of drugs and consumables to Primary Healthcare Centres.
