CHUKS OKOH
The Jigawa State Government has initiated steps to establish a dedicated budget line for the Supporting Access to Routine Immunisation and Child Health Services and Systems Strengthening (SARMAAN) programme to ensure the sustainability of critical child survival interventions beyond the end of donor funding.
The decision follows a high-level advocacy engagement with the state’s First Lady, Hadiza Umar Namadi, who accepted the role of SARMAAN Champion and pledged to leverage her office to champion the initiative.
The Jigawa State Ministry of Health also endorsed the proposal and committed to convening a technical working session to develop the framework for the new budget line.
The advocacy visit was led by Femi Ogunwede, head of the SARMAAN Sub-national Advocacy Project Team, alongside Hafsat Musa, State Team Lead of Malaria Consortium in Jigawa State.
Ogunwede emphasised that securing a dedicated budget line would strengthen government ownership of child survival efforts and guarantee the continuation of life-saving services after external support ends.
The Ministry of Health’s decision to begin developing a framework for the proposed budget line represents a significant step towards fully integrating SARMAAN into the state’s health financing system.
Hafsat Musa welcomed the development as a reflection of the state’s growing commitment to institutionalising child survival interventions.
“Government ownership is essential for sustaining the progress made under SARMAAN. We are encouraged by the commitment shown by the First Lady and the Ministry of Health to move this process forward,” she added
SARMAAN supports state governments in strengthening routine immunisation, improving child health services, and reinforcing primary healthcare systems to reduce preventable deaths among children under five.
Health experts note that dedicated budget lines enhance consistent funding for priority programmes, improve accountability, and reduce reliance on donor support.
If approved, the budget line would provide a sustainable financing mechanism for child survival interventions in Jigawa State, enabling the continuation of key activities well beyond the programme’s external funding period.
