Radda Moves to Close Immunisation Gaps as Save the Children Eyes Continued Partnership With Katsina

By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding immunisation coverage and improving healthcare for women and children as the government strengthens its partnership with Save the Children International United States (SCI-US).

Radda gave the assurance on Monday in Katsina while receiving a delegation from the international organisation on a courtesy visit, following the team’s assessment of ongoing projects and healthcare interventions in communities across the state.

The governor said his administration remained focused on improving access to quality healthcare, particularly for pregnant women and children, while tackling both the immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition. He also pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at increasing immunisation coverage and protecting vulnerable children against preventable diseases.

The visit provided an opportunity for the organisation to assess the impact of its interventions, engage with beneficiaries and evaluate the progress of community-based healthcare services.

Sandra Youssef, Senior Project Manager for Africa at SCI-US, commended the Katsina State Government for its support for the CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP) and the immunisation partnership. She said visiting project locations had given her a clearer picture of the work being carried out and its impact on local communities.

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“I have been behind the scenes for so long, so coming this time to see what the project has been doing is amazing,” Youssef said, expressing satisfaction with the delivery of community health services, immunisation for children and healthcare for pregnant women.

She appreciated the state government for its cooperation and hospitality, expressing hope that the partnership could continue into 2027, depending on future programme plans and the availability of funding.

According to Youssef, sustaining the collaboration could help attract additional resources, expand the reach of existing interventions and extend essential healthcare services to more communities that need them.

Earlier, Mustapha Shehu, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Development Management Board, disclosed that Save the Children had maintained a presence in the state for more than two decades, supporting interventions across several critical development sectors.

Shehu identified immunisation, basic education, nutrition and school safety as some of the organisation’s major areas of intervention. He added that its work with other development partners had contributed to efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve services at the community level.

He said the organisation’s programmes aligned with the priorities of the Radda administration’s Building Your Future agenda, which guides the state government’s development initiatives.

The meeting underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between the state government and development partners in addressing healthcare challenges, particularly those affecting mothers, infants and children in underserved communities. However, the continuation and expansion of the partnership in 2027 will depend partly on future plans and funding arrangements.