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.
