…..As Gavi alliance invests $2.3bn on immunization in Nigeria
says new malaria vaccine will be available soon
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday reiterated Nigeria’s steadfast dedication to enhancing the funding and accountability of its healthcare system, with a particular focus on the vaccination and immunisation programmes.
According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, he asserted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is unwaveringly committed to redefining modern leadership in the nation, especially in terms of the welfare of Nigerians.
He stated this during a high-level strategic meeting on Gavi Alliance support to the Nigerian government at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Shettima acknowledged the notable rise in vaccine coverage in Nigeria from 33 percent to 57 percent since 2016 and praised the Alliance’s vital services to this end.
“We are facing some fiscal and monetary challenges, but where there is the will, there is always the way. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is irrevocably committed to redefining the meaning and concept of modern leadership in this country. We are committed to the welfare of our nation,” he noted.
Shettima also acknowledged Gavi’s critical role in Nigeria’s polio eradication efforts, highlighting the last reported case in 2016, even as he emphasised the government’s dedication to sustainable domestic financing for immunization programmes and its exploration of innovative financing mechanisms.
“We appreciate Gavi’s assistance in strengthening vaccine supply chain management and cold chain infrastructure. This has been instrumental in ensuring the availability and accessibility of vaccines to all Nigerians,” he added.
Soliciting Gavi’s continued support, Vice President Shettima outlined Nigeria’s plans for post-pandemic recovery and integration of immunization services within broader health strategies.
He emphasised the need to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization programming and rebuild resilient health systems.
He continued: “We are grateful for Gavi’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s immunization efforts. We look forward to continued collaboration with Gavi and other stakeholders to achieve universal immunization coverage and ensure the well-being of all Nigerians.”
Earlier, the Interim CEO of Gavi Alliance,David Marlow, while explaining the board’s visit to Nigeria, commended the Tinubu administration for its “strong commitment to primary health care and immunization”.
Speaking to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, he disclosed that it has so far invested $2.3 billion in Nigeria as support towards vaccination.
He said that the money was invested to support Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, and that it was spent between 2002 and the present.
“I just want to let you know that the Gavi Alliance has been a good friend of Nigeria since 2002 and since that time we have invested $2.3 billion to support Nigeria with vaccination and the strengthening of the Primary Healthcare system,” Marlow stated.
He went on to say that the organisation is pleased that Muhammad Ali-Pate has been appointed as Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, noting that they look forward to work with him to advance the country’s health system.
“We are also delighted now to partner with the honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof Pate and we are so excited to see the new vision that he has led out in terms of the three-year strategy and the four action plans so we look forward to continuing to cooperate with the Ministry of Health”, he said.
The Gavi Chief said Nigeria is an important partner that must be given the needed attention because of the number of children that still need to be vaccinated.
“I also want to just reemphasise that our work in is so important in a country like Nigeria which has 2.3 million children that have not had any vaccination so, this is really very important for us that we focus on immunization and strengthen the local communities’ Primary Healthcare systems to help the citizens of this wonderful country,” he added.
Marlow also disclosed that a new vaccine for malaria will soon be available in Nigeria.
He said already, over four million young Nigerian women have been vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus.
“Just last month, we started by launching the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for prevention of cancer in young women and in this short period of time we have reached more than 4.5 million young women in Nigeria and that is tremendous because the overall goal that we have for that vaccine globally, 20 percent of it is represented by Nigeria.
“But more importantly we are also now working together with the Minister of health to make sure that we understand the path forward when it comes to the accountability framework and I will just say the last comment is that in September the WHO and Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) recommended a second vaccine for malaria.
“As you know, malaria is a terrible disease with 95 percent of the disease on the African continent and a third of that is in Nigeria so that is really something that we will need to continue to focus on, in terms of how we bring the vaccine to Africa and Nigeria but making sure that that is one of the tools in the tool kit to fight this very bad disease,” he added.
Ali-Pate, on his part said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision has resonated both at home and abroad.
He disclosed that Gavi Alliance is in the country alongside 12 governments to rededicate themselves to supporting Nigeria’s health sector.
“I think the President’s vision and his Renewed Hope agenda for this has resonated locally and internationally. Here we have the largest global health fund; the Gavi Alliance and 12 governments, a very high level delegation visiting to understand where we are heading and to recommit themselves to work with us to improve access by Nigerians to basic healthcare services with immunization at the forefront of that,” he said.
Pate stressed that the support would help Nigeria secure the future of its youth and the nation at large.
“That will save our children from dying due to preventable causes as well as enhance the future of our country by having capable young people that are healthier to drive the economy and achieve the prosperity that President Bola Tinubu has laid out in the vision that he has for this country,” he stated.
Also present at the meeting were Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina; Gavi’s Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery, Thabani Maphosa; Chargé d’Affaires of the US Mission in Nigeria, David Greene; World Bank Country Director, Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, as well as representatives of development partners on the Gavi board, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, WHO, and the UK government.