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The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, GAVI, has given a support of $1.03billion to Nigeria to help increase the immunization routine across the country.
The GAVI approval was given on June 6th 2018, at tye GAVI board meeting in Geneva, Switzerland following Nigeria’s proposal for GAVI transition on Nigeria Strategy For Routine Immunization and Primary Health Care Syatems’ Strengthening (NSIPSS).
The to this end, GAVI has comitted $1.03 billion while the Federal Government will provide the counterpart contribution in excess of $1.9 billion for the provision of vaccines for Nigerian children for the period of 10years, (2018-2028).
Speaking on the global support for Nigeria’s Primary Health Care Sector, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole said the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGoN) and GAVI entered into an agreement to strengthen immunization system across the country, during which GAVI supported the country with the introduction of life saving vaccines,such as PCV, IPV and Pentavalent vaccines, and provided additional support for non-vaccine operations.
This Adewole noted amounted to a total contribution of $732,130,326 and as a result, has saved over 2 million lives in the last 17 years.
“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,” Adewole Said.
A member of GAVI steering Committee, Chizoba Wonochi said the aim of the support by GAVI is to ensure that immunization is increased from 50% to 80% by year 2028.
The condition attached to the fund according to Chizoba, is that as the GAVI fund is decreasing, the counterpart fund to be provided by the Nigerian government would be increasing.
“There are conditions attached to this support , Nigeria has to increase her funding for immunization and primary health care.
Chizoba noted that the laggard states which are the priority state; states in the north east, and northwest while not leaving other states behind, as it would be allocated according to needs.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib on his path said the premise of the approval is hinged on the confidence of the global body on the Nigerian government.
” This is an auspicious time for the health sector, particularly the primary health care and immunization.
” It is very clear that we have set the building blocks for strong primary health system,” said Faisal
The infusement of the fund Faisal said will go a long way in improving productivity in the Nigerian primary health sector especially in the area of infant and maternal mortality.
Oyin Aminu, Abuja
