Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has endorsed the work of New cash Incentives – All Babies Are Equal (NI-ABAE), describing it as one of the most impactful healthcare interventions in the state for boosting infant immunization.
Receiving a delegation from the NGO at the Government House, the Governor expressed surprise at the scale of its operations and pledged the government’s full collaboration. He directed the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to provide NI-ABAE with office space and deliver regular progress updates.
To further encourage women to access healthcare services, Governor Bala suggested the addition of maternity kits and other non-cash incentives alongside the ongoing cash transfers. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to partnering with local and international stakeholders to improve maternal and child health, while thanking the program’s funders for their support.
Earlier, NI-ABAE’s Stakeholder Relations Director, Nura Muhammad, revealed that since its inception in 2022, the program has reached over 734,000 caregivers with conditional cash transfers worth more than ₦4 billion across eleven northern states.
In Bauchi alone, more than 325 people have been employed under the initiative, which has reduced the number of “zero-dose” children—those who have never received any vaccine—by 32 percent. Muhammad called for the Governor’s backing in intensifying radio campaigns and engaging traditional rulers to address vaccine hesitancy, particularly in rural areas.
By Lizzy Carr
