Nigeria secures $500m Gavi support to boost immunisation, primary healthcare

 By Admin

Nigeria has secured a $500 million five-year immunisation support package from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to strengthen primary healthcare nationwide.

 The package which is among the largest recent investments in the country's health sector, is aimed toward supporting routine immunisation, improving vaccine delivery and expanding access to life-saving vaccines for millions of Nigerian children.

Announcing the commitment after a high-level meeting in Abuja with the Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Dr. Sania Nishtar,  the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate described the proposed funding as a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria's ongoing health sector reforms, saying it would accelerate efforts to expand access to vaccines while strengthening domestic financing for immunisation.

 "The proposed support of almost $500 million over the next five years speaks volumes, it gives us greater momentum to strengthen domestic financing, secure vaccines and ensure they reach every Nigerian child," Pate said.

 The minister remarked that Nigeria's primary healthcare system has made significant progress since Nishtar's last visit in 2023. Quarterly utilisation of Primary Healthcare Centres, he noted, has risen from about 10 million visits to more than 40 million.

 Pate attributed the improvement to the revitalisation of thousands of primary healthcare centres, stronger routine immunisation and maternal and child health services, as well as the successful implementation of the world's largest measles-rubella vaccination campaign, which protected more than 102 million Nigerian children.

 Nishtar, in her remarks, reaffirmed Gavi's long-term commitment to Nigeria, describing Nigeria as the alliance's second-largest portfolio globally and its largest co-financing partner.

 

"Gavi is here to signal that we are there for you. While many global health institutions are reducing their footprint, we will continue supporting Nigeria's immunisation programme," she stated.

 She announced an upward review of Nigeria's vaccine and cash allocation, alongside reduced co-financing obligations to give the government greater fiscal flexibility.

Nishtar also outlined reforms under Gavi's 6.0 strategy, including simplified funding processes, decentralised decision-making, digitised grant management and predictable five-year vaccine budgets, noting that the changes were shaped by feedback received during her 2023 visit to Nigeria.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, described the visit as another milestone in the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and Gavi.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to providing the leadership, coordination and stewardship needed to translate the partnership into stronger immunisation systems, improved primary healthcare services and better health outcomes for Nigerians.

 Nigeria and Gavi reaffirmed commitment to sustaining gains in routine immunisation, accelerating polio eradication, expanding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, strengthening primary healthcare and increasing domestic investment to ensure every Nigerian child has access to life-saving vaccines and quality healthcare.

 The renewed partnership further reinforces international confidence in Nigeria's health sector reform agenda and underscores the Federal Government's commitment to building a resilient, equitable and sustainable healthcare system for all Nigerians.