Federal Government has received a $9.26 million grant from Canadian to scale-up COVID-19 vaccine service delivery among high priority risk groups and strengthen health systems.
The grant will enable World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria to provide support to strengthen health systems, increase COVID-19 vaccine demand generation and uptake in an integrated mode with routine immunisation and other Primary Health Care (PHC) service.
The states where the grant will be implemented are Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Kebbi, Katsina, Anambra, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo.
Speaking during launch of Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE) grant in Abuja, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said: “COVID-19 vaccination programme was launched in Nigeria on March 5, 2021, and thanks to support of governments, and our partners, we have reached over 75 per cent of the target population of individuals, aged 18 and above with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
“While we made progress, we still have work to do. Several states have primary series coverage below 70 per cent, and booster doses account for over 20 per cent of vaccinations. Therefore, this grant targets states with lower performance and aims to reach high-priority populations.”
Canada’s High Commissioner in Nigeria, Jamie Christoff, said: “CanGIVE strengthens COVID-19 vaccine delivery systems to reach high priority and marginalised groups; enhance integration of COVID-19 vaccine to routine health service; and scale up regional vaccine production capacity. It will also target improved access to the vaccines.”
Country Representative of WHO, Dr. Walter Mulombo, added: “WHO director general’s declaration that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concerns (PHEIC) marks a turning point in the pandemic. The declaration does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global/national health threat…’’
“Though considerable achievements have been made, we are still at risk of the infection as cases are still being reported in a number of countries. I would like to take this opportunity to caution all of us on the need to continue protecting ourselves by completing the primary series of COVID-19 vaccination and for those who have completed to continue with the booster dose schedule.”