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Tag: GAVI

  • Barcelona’s Gavi out for up to five months

    Barcelona’s Gavi out for up to five months

    Barcelona midfielder Gavi could miss five months of the season after having knee surgery.

    The 21-year-old featured in Barcelona’s opening two matches of the season before injuring his right knee during a training session in August.

    There were fears the Spain international had suffered a recurrence of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear he sustained in 2023.

    Although scan results revealed Gavi had avoided an ACL tear, he has had an operation to repair damaged cartilage.

    “Gavi has had an arthroscopy to resolve a medial meniscus injury, which was sutured to preserve the meniscus,” a Barcelona statement read.

    “Recovery time is estimated at around 4-5 months.”

    Read Also: UNICEF, GAVI donate four ambulance boats to boost healthcare in Bayelsa riverine communities

    Gavi became the fourth youngest debutant in Barcelona history when he made his debut in 2021.

    He has scored 10 goals in 155 games and won five trophies.

    He suffered an ACL tear on international duty with Spain in November 2023 that kept him out for 11 months.

    Barcelona are second in La Liga, five points behind rivals Real Madrid with a game in hand.

    BBC

  • UNICEF, GAVI, others hand over healthcare facilities to Bayelsa govt

    UNICEF, GAVI, others hand over healthcare facilities to Bayelsa govt

    The Bayelsa State government, alongside partners such as Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Corona Management, conducted a visit to recently renovated primary health care centres in the Kaiama community (Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area) and Zarama (Yenagoa LGA).

    The visit marked the closure of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving health care delivery in the state.

    The high-level mission team was warmly welcomed by HRH J.O. Burutolu, the Amananaowei of Kaiama.

    Chief Burutolu expressed gratitude to Gavi, UNICEF, and the Bayelsa state government for their significant efforts in enhancing primary health care in the community.

    He emphasised that the renovations and quality facilities had led to a notable decrease in the prevalence of common diseases in the area.

    The paramount ruler commended the collaboration between the state government, Gavi, and UNICEF, highlighting the positive impact of their interventions on primary health care in Bayelsa.

    He also recognised the initiatives of Governor Douye Diri, who had overseen various ongoing projects throughout the state.

    Read Also: El-Rufai, Amaechi and the loose cannons of Nigeria’s politics

    Burutolu assured the visiting team that the community would ensure adequate security for the newly upgraded health facilities.

    Dr. Anslem Audu, Chief Field Officer for UNICEF Port Harcourt, expressed satisfaction with the partnership over the past three years.

    He noted that the visit aimed to officially hand over the health centres to the Bayelsa state government, which will continue to provide essential health care services to the community.

    During the visit to the Zarama Health Centre, the mission team interacted with mothers and children who were receiving medical care. Officers in Charge, Azibalua Dakolo and Adams Abomo Preye, expressed appreciation for the transformation initiated by Gavi, UNICEF, and the state government.

  • Gavi donates 846,000 Malaria vaccine to Nigeria

    Gavi donates 846,000 Malaria vaccine to Nigeria

    Nigeria has received 846,000 doses of the RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to combat malaria.

    This vaccine, proven to reduce malaria cases and mortality among young children in large clinical trials across Africa, makes Nigeria the third country to adopt it, following Ghana and Kenya, which started using it in 2023.

    The vaccine rollout is set to begin in November in two high-prevalence States, Kebbi and Bayelsa, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, said on Thursday.

    Malaria, which is transmitted year-round in southern Nigeria and lasts up to three months in the northern regions, remains a major public health concern, affecting about 97 percent of the population.

    During the handover of the RTS, S/AS01 vaccines in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasized the pivotal role the vaccine will play in reducing malaria cases and deaths.

    He noted that the arrival of the vaccine marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s fight against malaria and will significantly enhance the country’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease, revealing that the rollout would begin in high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.

    The minister said: “Our target is to prioritize regions most affected by malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited.

    “With proper infrastructure, political will, and continued international collaboration, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the disease’s toll and moving toward malaria elimination”.

    Asserting that global health partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are providing both technical and financial support to ensure the successful rollout of the malaria vaccine, Pate said, “USAID and other partners are pushing for rapid scale-up beyond the initial two States.

    “The aim issue for a nationwide rollout to cover all regions of the country,” Pate added.

    On his part, the Executive Director (ED) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, also underscored the importance of the vaccine, noting that Nigeria is among the top 10 contributors to the global burden of malaria, accounting for approximately 27 percent of the global burden and 31 percent of malaria deaths worldwide.

    “In 2022, nearly 200,000 deaths from malaria occurred in Nigeria. Children under five years of age, and pregnant women are the most affected, with a national malaria prevalence rate of 22% in children aged 6-59 months as of 2021.

    “The vaccine would quicken our malaria control and elimination efforts, as we expect about a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality in children under five and a 22% reduction in hospitalized severe malaria cases.

    Read Also: Overcoming hurdles toward malaria vaccine deployment

    He however assured that the agency would not compromise deployment of the vaccine for whatever reason, saying, “The WHO recommends prioritization of the vaccine in areas of high to moderate transmission and this is guiding our phased introduction strategy.

    “Consequently, we are commencing the first phase of the introduction in November, in two States – Kebbi and Bayelsa, with high prevalence of malaria.

    “Kebbi because it has the highest prevalence rate in the country (52%); while Bayelsa is selected because its target population of 69,935, and that of Kebbi’s 162,014, aligns with the one million doses available for this phase, thereby ensuring that the vaccine supply is effectively utilized.

    “The vaccine will be administered to children aged 5 months to 15 months as part of Routine Immunization.

    “Each child requires four doses, given at 5, 6, 7, and 15 months of age, to be fully protected”.

    Expressing optimism about the vaccine’s life-saving potential, WHO’s representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, voiced confidence that the vaccine, when combined with other preventive measures, will significantly reduce the malaria burden in Nigeria and bring the country closer to the goal of a malaria-free Africa.

  • Gavi suffers serious knee injury in Spain win

    Gavi suffers serious knee injury in Spain win

    Spain and Barcelona midfielder Gavi suffered a serious knee injury in the Euro 2024 qualifying win over Georgia.

    The 19-year-old landed awkwardly after jumping to control the ball, and left the pitch in tears in Valladolid.

    Manager Luis de la Fuente said Spain must wait for tests amid concerns it could be an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

    “This is the ugly part of football. This is the most bitter victory I have ever experienced in my life,” he said.

    “It is a very difficult moment for Gavi, Barcelona, the national team and for me – it seems as if we have lost the game.

    “I am very sorry (for Gavi). Let’s wait for the tests to confirm the extent of the injury.”

    Spain, who had already sealed their place at next summer’s European Championships, beat Georgia 3-1 to finish top of Group A above Scotland.

    Read Also: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona: Gavi leads Xavi to first Blaugrana title

    Defender Robin le Normand put Spain ahead after four minutes but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia equalised.

    Ferran Torres restored Spain’s lead in the second half before Luka Lochoshvili scored an own goal for Georgia.

    “We can’t celebrate as we would have liked. Gavi’s injury is a hard blow. I’m really gutted,” said Le Normand.

    Torres, who held up Gavi’s shirt to celebrate his goal, said: “An important victory to end on a good note, but we leave with a bittersweet feeling.

    “We don’t know the extent of the injury but, knowing how much of a warrior Gavi is, we think it could be serious.”

  • Fed Govt, Gavi partner to reach more children with lifesaving vaccines

    Fed Govt, Gavi partner to reach more children with lifesaving vaccines

    In order to increase immunisation coverage, particularly for children who have not received vaccine (zero dose children), the Federal Government has partnered Gavi, the vaccine alliance.

     Through the partnership, which resulted in the launch of the zero dose learning hub, children who, before now have been left out from vaccination at the national and sub-national levels, can be reached with life-saving vaccines.

    Speaking during the launch of the zero dose learning learning hub in Abuja, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said: “As a nation, we acknowledge that we have yet to attain our designated goal in immunization coverage. We are acutely aware of the multitude of challenges and obstacles that have hindered our efforts to establish an effective routine immunization system. These challenges include a scarcity of human resources, suboptimal capacity, insufficient funding, inadequate drugs and commodities and more.

    Read Also: Enugu govt, Indonesia to deepen trade,  investment relations

     “In response to these pressing issues, we have implemented a range of strategic interventions. These initiatives include Optimized Outreach Sessions (OOS), Optimized Integrated Routine Immunization Sessions (OIRIS), Routine Immunization Intensification, Quarterly Lot Quality Assurance Survey (LQAS) to access our progress and a whole lot of other strategies that are gradually yielding positive outcomes. Our goal is to reach every eligible child and ensure that no child is left vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.”

     Senior Specialist in Evaluation and Learning at Gavi, Dr. Heidi Raynolds, said: “Nigeria is home to the highest number of zero dose children, those children who have never been immunized. However, the country has made important progress increasing Penta-3 coverage from 33 per cent in 2016 to 62 per cent in 2022, and reducing the number of zero dose children from 3.5 million to 2.3 million in that same timeframe.

      “The Nigeria Learning Hub is an opportunity to regularly convene partners to build the evidence base about what works to restore those children and ensure that the evidence is used to further strengthen program implementation, and ultimately deliver on the must win to strengthen routine immunization and reach zero dose children.”

  • UBA Foundation, Gavi partner on Africa devt

    Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa Group, have joined together to strengthen health systems and raise awareness of immunisation across Africa, starting in 2018 with Nigeria.

    The UBA Foundation and Gavi will leverage the United Bank for Africa’s network and expertise to invest in Africa’s health system, starting with Nigeria.

    “We are delighted to work with the UBA Foundation to help protect children across Nigeria against some of the world’s deadliest diseases,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi the Vaccine Alliance. “Strong, sustainable health systems are key to ensuring no child misses out on lifesaving vaccines which is why this partnership will make a real difference, reducing child mortality and helping to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030.”

    The partnership with the UBA Foundation aims to raise US$ 1.5 million over the next two years by leveraging UBA’s network of partners to support Gavi’s immunisation programmes in Nigeria. The UBA Foundation will also advocate for immunisation in Nigeria, which has one of the lowest vaccine coverage rates in the world.

    “The United Bank for Africa and the UBA Foundation have been impacting lives positively in Nigeria and across the African continent for several decades, and this is another opportunity to make a difference in the lives of millions of Africans,” said Kennedy Uzoka, UBA Group CEO and Chairman of the UBA Foundation.

    “We are proud of the partnership with Gavi which will run until the end of 2020, with both institutions focused on the overall aim to provide innovative solutions that can increase the capacity of healthcare systems in Nigeria and across Africa.”

    In the last five years over 14 million children in Nigeria have been vaccinated against some of the world’s deadliest diseases with support from Gavi. If Nigeria meets its targets for vaccine coverage, it will be able to prevent at least one million deaths by 2028.

    “However, Nigeria needs to invest more domestic resources in health and immunisation,” said Dr Berkley. “The private sector can be a crucial partner to help leverage expertise and provide new solutions to ensure children across Nigeria have the opportunity to lead long, healthy lives.”

     

  • Gavi gaffe

    •Nigeria’s vaccine fraud exposes our inadequacies abroad

    One of the more galling aspects of the rampant corruption and incompetence that continue to plague Nigeria is the fact that its consequences are not confined to the country’s borders.

    The latest manifestation of this has appeared in Gavi, a global vaccine alliance set up to provide the world’s poorest countries with unfettered access to vaccines for children. The organisation’s board is chaired by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and has several Nigerians as members, including Professor Oyewale Tomori, the distinguished virologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University.

    Tomori recently informed the world of the way in which avarice and ineptitude have combined to undermine the effectiveness of Gavi’s interventions in Nigeria, thereby putting the lives of millions of children at risk.

    In an article titled “The Shame of Nigeria’s Stalled Transitioning from Gavi Support,” he explained the brazen manner in which a total of US$7.6 million in Gavi funds were misappropriated. The organisation had undertaken an extensive audit of its programmes in Nigeria between January 2010 and March 2015, and had found that $2.2 million and $5.4 million had gone into the irregular or ineligible use of its funds.

    After prolonged discussion, Nigeria agreed to return the misused funds to Gavi. An initial $5.4 million was paid; payment of the remaining $2.2 million became a condition for Gavi to consider Nigeria’s proposed request to extend its transition from Gavi support to 2028.

    The country’s failure to pay this second tranche became a sticking-point at a Gavi board meeting in June this year. Eventually, the board agreed to consider Nigeria’s request, subject to the fulfillment of all outstanding commitments and the establishment of an accountability framework.

    The acute humiliation felt by Tomori and the other Nigerians is best expressed in his own words: “Where I sat, mute as the famous Owerri Zuma statue, their words came as flying darts to my heart, my pride, my ego, my patriotism, and my being.”

    Nigeria had failed to return funds it acknowledged had been willfully misappropriated by its own agencies. It was asking for an extension of assistance from the very organisation whose funds its officials had misappropriated. It had demonstrated its inability to identify those responsible, had done nothing to sanction them, and had not shown that it was prepared to take measures to ensure that such acts would not happen again.

    It is almost certain that what occurred at Gavi is probably taking place in many of the multilateral agencies and non-governmental organisations in which Nigeria is a member. Commitments are consistently being broken, promises are constantly not being kept, and objectives are continually being undermined.

    The country cannot continue to behave in this manner and expect to be taken seriously. Indeed, this could be the real reason why Nigeria and its citizens often meet with indifference and hostility at different international fora. A nation that cannot keep its word will not be respected, no matter how “big” it claims to be.

    As Tomori asks, “How come a nation so rich with enough resources to fully vaccinate every child and more, is asking for such a long extension? It is good that the Nigerian government accepted to refund the misused funds, but has any individual been held accountable? Or is the government endorsing misuse of money? Why does Nigeria have to wait until the last minute to fulfill her obligation?”

    If the country is truly interested in regaining its international credibility, it must move to identify and prosecute those who misappropriated the $7.6 million. It should work with Gavi to set up processes and procedures that will make it more difficult for funds to be so misused. It must ensure that it meets its financial and other obligations promptly.

    Just as importantly, Nigeria must make sure that it is fully self-sufficient in vaccine production by the time the extension it is seeking from Gavi ends in 2028. The lives of the country’s youngest citizens should no longer be jeopardised by corruption and incompetence.

  • Immunization: GAVI board approves $2.7b extension of transition from Nigeria

    …To save additional 1.554m under- one children by 2018

    The country’s request for extension of transition from the GAVI funds has been approved by the alliance board, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.

    Prof. Adewole said GAVI board approved the funding envelope and the decision for extension of transitional period from 2021 to 2028.

    The investment is worth $2.7 billion, with GAVI committing $1.03 billion while, the Federal Government counterpart contribution is in excess of $1.9 billion.

    Making it the largest singular investment of any kind in the health sector since the history of the Primary Health Care System in Nigeria, thereby heralding a new path to improving the health of Nigerians.

    The fund will enable Nigeria provide vaccines for its children over the next ten years (2018-2028).

    GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance is the largest global coalition of the public and private sector with the shared goal of accelerating equal access to new and underutilized vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.

    Nigeria and GAVI in 2001 entered into an agreement to strengthen immunization system across the country. During this period, GAVI supported the country with the introduction of life saving vaccines, which include PCV, IPV and Pentavalent vaccines, and provided additional support for non-vaccine operations worth $732,130,326 and as a result, saved over 2 million lives in the last 17 years.

    However, following the rebasing of the economy, Nigeria rose above GAVI eligible countries and the need to transit from GAVI support programme by 2021.

    This new approval, the minister said will help the country to save additional lives of 1,539,651 million under-1 children by 2028.

    Adewole who addressed the media yesterday in Abuja said the extension was as a result of the renewed commitment of the current administration and demonstrable leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari in enshrining accountability and transparency in all governments’ dealings especially with donor agencies.

    The minister who was excited to broke the news to journalists said, “It is with great pleasure that I inform you that on Wednesday, June 6 2018, the GAVI Board meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, approved Nigeria’s proposal for GAVI transition, the Nigeria Strategy for Routine Immunization and Primary Health Care Systems’ Strengthening (NSIPSS).

    “This investment, worth over $2.7 billion of which GAVI has committed $1.03 billionwhile the Federal Government counterpart contribution is in excess of $1.9 billion, will enable Nigeria provide vaccines for its children over the next ten years (2018-2028). Making it the largest singular investment of any kind in the health sector since the history of the Primary Health Care System in Nigeria and heralds a new path toimproving the health of Nigerians.

    “The GAVI board approval of the funding envelope and the decision for extension of transitional period from 2021 to 2028 was a direct testament of the renewed commitment of this current administration and demonstrable leadership of Mr. President in enshrining accountability and transparency in all governments’ dealings especially with donor agencies,” he said.

    Speaking on the gains of the extension, the minister said, “With this approval by GAVI, Nigeria stands to save the lives of additional 1,539,651 under-1 children by 2028 by driving immunization rates up to 85% in all states and improving the supply chain; while rebuilding financial credibility and trust, transforming the organization structure of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Nigeria, consolidating gains in polio eradication and revitalizing the Primary Health Care System.

    “This comes at an auspicious time to complement government’s efforts to revitalize the primary health care system through the provision of the minimum package of care using the basic health care provision fund, all geared towards strengthening the PHC system in Nigeria. The PHC system caters for over 70% of the population who are in most need of health. Ten thousand (10,000) PHC centres will benefit from this where each PHC is fully equipped to provide the basic minimum package of care.”

  • We are correcting our lapses – Buhari

    We are correcting our lapses – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday assured that lapses that had worked against Nigeria as a nation are being corrected.

    He gave the assurance while receiving a team led by Dr. Seth Berkley, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi and The Global Fund at the State House, Abuja.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said he was impressed with the patience and steadfastness of leading supporters of health care in Nigeria.

    He said: “Despite our shortcomings as a nation, we are making genuine efforts to correct the lapses. We are very serious about people behaving themselves, and being accountable.

    “We thank you for deciding to re-engage with us, despite our inefficiencies. You decided to be here, not minding our shortcomings. There are other countries that would bring less problems. We appreciate your commitment, and we will do our best to put ourselves in the best shape to help us.”

    Dr. Berkley, who noted that the three focal points of the Buhari administration – security, economic development, and anti-corruption were critical to the future of Nigeria, had raised issues at the way donor funds for health care were utilized in the past.

    He said Gavi and the Global Fund were disappointed when forensic audit revealed systemic weaknesses and corruption in the utilization  of funds given in the past, adding that there is now a “breath of fresh air” under President Buhari’s  leadership and fight against corruption.

    He said they are now willing to close the books of the past and look into future support.

    Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, who was also at the event, disclosed that those indicted in the audit of the donor funds in the past had been questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and would be arraigned in court soon.

     

  • Donor suspends aid to Nigeria over stolen fund

    Donor suspends aid to Nigeria over stolen fund

    The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has suspended payments to Nigeria’s AIDS agency over evidence that $3.8 million was stolen by its workers and consultants, the Geneva-based agency said on Friday.

    Fund spokesman Seth Faison said Nigeria’s government has promised to repay the money and to prosecute suspects.

    A report by the fund’s inspector general said seven government workers and three information technology consultants stole the money over five years between 2010 and 2014.

    It said the fraud continued because the National Agency for the Control of AIDS did not carry out proper audits.

    The missing money is 95 percent of the amount budgeted to implement, administer and train users of a web-based reporting platform, according to the report, but a fraction of the $1.4 billion the fund has spent fighting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Nigeria — its biggest recipient.

    Nigeria, has the world’s second highest number of people infected with AIDS after South Africa, it reports one-third of all deaths from malaria in Africa and is among the top 22 countries with the most TB patients.

    Last year, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization accused Ministry of Health officials of malpractice and fraud involving 40 percent of the $29 million it spent in Nigeria between 2011 and 2013.

    Nigeria later repaid GAVI $2.2 million.