Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency has held a one-day expanded state oversight committee meeting focused on the Abuja commitment. The event, which took place at Haske Hotels in Minna, was attended by 25 local government council chairmen and district heads.
Keynote Address by Commissioner for Health
In his keynote address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Mohammad Bagana, stressed that the Abuja commitment meeting aims to review activities of the ministry and its relevant agencies. He noted that the meeting provides stakeholders with an opportunity to ask questions and explore ways to improve the new Niger Health Agenda under Governor Umar Bago's administration.
Dr. Bagana appreciated development partners, civil society organizations, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), traditional institutions, as well as the staff and management of the ministry for their immense contributions to ensuring the success of immunization campaigns in the state at all levels.
The commissioner maintained that Niger State is performing well, although insecurity and trans-border movement pose challenges. He noted that the state cannot be far from polio despite progress.
Background on the Abuja Commitment
The Abuja Commitment was adopted in 2001 by African leaders to strengthen health systems across the continent. It commits countries to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to health, aiming to combat major diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. While it remains a key policy framework under the African Union, implementation has been uneven, with many countries yet to meet the funding target despite its importance in improving healthcare delivery.
Role of Traditional Institutions
Earlier, the Chairman of the Traditional Leaders Council on Immunization in the North Central States and Emir of Kagara, Mal. Ahmed Garba Guna II, represented by Dr. Chindo Ibrahim Bisallah, stated that the responsibility of traditional institutions is to ensure their communities are mobilized to participate actively in campaigns so that all eligible children are vaccinated.
The royal father noted that traditional councils also address issues during implementation, such as non-acceptance, non-compliance, and identifying new settlements. He added, "As you are aware, migrants come from one place to another; they are also sources of infection. We ensure that if there are eligible children among them, they are also vaccinated."
According to him, "We equally participated in the supervision of immunization activities from day one to the last day. We participated in review meetings to identify issues in different localities so that those issues can be resolved. That is what the traditional councils contributed to ensure the campaigns are hitch-free."
Commitment from Local Government Chairmen
On their parts, the Chairman of Kontagora Local Government, Barrister Lawal Yusuf, and that of Chanchaga, Dr. Mustafa Alheri, who represented ALGON, pledged the commitment of all 25 local government chairmen to the Abuja commitment meeting. They assured that the councils would do everything needed for the full implementation and actualization of the meeting's objectives.
In their separate goodwill messages, representatives of UNICEF, civil society organizations, and other development partners pledged to sustain their synergy to achieve the desired objectives of the campaign against polio virus and other diseases in the state.
