BOOST Project Reviews Progress, Charts New Advocacy Strategy in Kano

By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano 

The Kano State Community of Practice (CoP) on Immunisation, Budget Tracking, Advocacy and Accountability has reviewed its achievements and challenges for the first half of 2026, while outlining new strategies to strengthen advocacy, stakeholder engagement and routine immunisation activities across the state.

The resolutions were reached during the CoP’s quarterly review meeting held in Kano under the Better Opportunities for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation for Zero-Dose and Under-immunised Children (BOOST) Project, implemented by Save the Children with support from GSK.

Speaking during the meeting, the BOOST Project Manager, Malam Abdullahi Magama, reviewed the implementation of activities for the first and second quarters of 2026, highlighting key successes recorded, challenges encountered and strategies to sustain progress in the remaining months of the year.

Magama appreciated members of the Community of Practice for their commitment and continued support to the project, urging them to maintain the momentum in implementing advocacy activities and promoting routine immunisation across Kano State.

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He stressed the need for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the project achieves its objectives of reducing the number of zero-dose and under-immunised children in the state.

Also speaking, the Advocacy Officer of the BOOST Project, Umar Ibrahim, said activities for the third quarter of 2026 would focus largely on strengthening stakeholder mapping to identify key individuals and institutions capable of advancing the project’s advocacy objectives.

He explained that the exercise would help the project engage influential stakeholders whose support is critical to improving routine immunisation, accountability and budget tracking across the state.

Umar further disclosed plans to establish dedicated social media platforms for the Community of Practice to improve public awareness, complement advocacy visits and increase the visibility of the project’s activities.

He added that the project was also considering capacity-building programmes for members of the Kano State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Health and other critical government stakeholders to deepen their understanding of the project’s objectives and strengthen institutional support.

According to him, members of the Community of Practice will equally benefit from additional training to improve their understanding of advocacy briefs and enhance their effectiveness in policy advocacy and community engagement.

Earlier, Chairman of the Kano State Community of Practice, Comrade Salisu Yusuf, reviewed the platform’s activities, noting that members successfully carried out over 65 per cent of the advocacy visits and other planned activities scheduled for the first and second quarters of 2026.

He described the progress as encouraging and commended members for their dedication and commitment despite operational challenges.

Salisu called on members to sustain their commitment in the remaining months of the year, stressing the importance of teamwork and stronger collaboration in achieving the objectives of the BOOST Project.

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