The federal government weekend received a grant of 9.2 million dollars from the Canada’s Global Initiative for vaccine Equity CanGIVE.
Head of Mission & Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, stated this during the launch in Abuja, saying that, “The Canada Global Initiative, aims to support country-led efforts to expedite COVID-19 vaccine delivery and distribution amongst high priority risk groups, increase vaccine confidence and generate demand.”
Dr. Mulombo added that the grant has come at the right time to help improve coverage and uptake of the vaccine among the priority populations in line with the current WHO SAGE roadmap on uses of COVID-19 vaccines.
“The grant will be implemented in the 15 lowest performing states of Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Anambra, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo,” he said.
He stated further that it will enable the WHO Nigeria country office provide technical support to strengthen health systems, specially for data management and surveillance linked to the Transforming African Surveillance Systems (TASS) flagship initiative, increase COVID-19 vaccine demand generation and uptake in an integrated mode with routine immunisation and other PHC services.
“As of now, 14 states are performing less than 50 per cent vaccination coverage of their target population, and we still have some vulnerable populations that are not sufficiently covered.
Key among these subgroups are the aged (50years and above), people with co-morbidities, the health workers, people living in humanitarian and security compromised communities and the pregnant women,” he said.
