The Federal Government, through the National Agency for the Development of Primary Health (NPHCDA), in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has presented the subsidy of strengthening of health systems 3 (HSS3) of $ 191 million, aimed at addressing the issue of zero dose and the low immunization coverage in Nigeria.
This substantial investment is expected to improve vaccines that save lives for millions of Nigerian children, particularly those in unattended and difficult communities in the next four years.
The subsidy will support efforts to strengthen the country's immunization systems, improve vaccine supply and raise awareness about the importance of vaccination.
The executive director of Gavi, Dr. Sania Nishtar, announced this during the official presentation of the HSS3 support program in Abuja on Friday.
The CEO, represented by Alex de Jonquieres, director of Strengthening of the Health System in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, declared that Nigeria is home to the largest number of children in zero doses, those who have not received a unique dose of routine vaccines, in the world.
He added that low immunization coverage continues to result in repeated outbreaks of preventable diseases and preventable deaths.
“To address this, today we are launching the next grant to strengthen Gavi's health systems with another $ 191 million of funds in the next 4 years.
“This subsidy is one of the largest by Gavi and intends to help extend the scope of the health system to reach 1.8 million children with zero doses and increase 84% immunization coverage by 2028”.
“This subsidy was designed by the Nigeria government through an inclusive planning process in FMOH, NPHCDA and other agencies at the federal and state level and with the support of WHO, UNICEF, many other partners and civil society and private sector organizations.
“He received a strong support from our technical review panel for his strategic vision, digital innovation and focus on sustainability.”
“Almost 80% of [the grant] He is supporting the work at the subnational level and more than 10% of that will flow to civil society organizations that work at the community level to ensure that financing is available as close as possible to the communities we seek to achieve.
“The National Committee of Traditional Leaders will be a key partner to help amplify these efforts at the subnational level.”
The CEO also pointed out that Gavi has provided $ 260 million to strengthen Nigeria's health system to deliver vaccines, along with additional support for vaccination campaigns.
“This has allowed the introduction of 9 vaccines in Nigeria, including more recently, HPV vaccines, which has already protected 13.5 million Nigerian girls against cervical cancer, and malaria. By recognizing the importance of Nigeria, the Gavi Board approved a 10 -year special strategy for Nigeria in 2018.
“This strategy helps to provide Nigeria with vaccines that she needs with vaccines worth $ 1.1 billion acquired since 2018, a third of the Nigeria government and two thirds of Gavi. It also provides $ 260 million to strengthen Nigeria's health system to deliver these vaccines, as well as additional support to implement vaccination campaigns.”
“To date, this two -pointed strategy has allowed Nigeria to extend the immunization to 1.7 million children in zero doses, those who otherwise would not have received a single vaccine. 91 million children under 5 years of age through vaccination campaigns, procure and install 11,405 CCE units in PHC, LGA and cold state stores.”
In addition, he revealed that the subsidy will directly support eight states: Bayelsa, Gombe, Jigawa, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi, Taraba and Zamfara.
He also stressed that 3,683 health workers have been recruited, who, in addition to immunization, have supported 572,000 mothers in the delivery of their babies. In addition, 493 primary medical care centers have been renewed and more functional facts, while 780 motorcycles, 6 buses, 10 motorized boats and 1 refrigerated truck have been provided to support the distribution of vaccines and immunization services.
“In addition, we are also investing $ 100 million this year in a vaccination campaign to protect more than 100 million children against measles and rubella, our largest campaign of this type.
“This support is designed to completely align with the pioneering approach of the sector and the health sector reform program that is led by the coordinating minister. At the same time, Gavi Investment is destined to be catalytic and complementary to the investments of the Nigeria government. Therefore, we seek that the government continues to increase internal investment in the health sector and in specific immunization.
“We also hope to have a solid responsibility of both the government and the implementation of partners to ensure that each inverted Naira is resulting in systemic improvements in the performance of the health system and, ultimately, leads to more lives of Nigerian children.
“I think Nigeria is at the cusp to transform its immunization program and greatly accelerating progress to protect each child with immunization. I am excited that today has the first step in that trip to a future in which no child dies unnecessarily from a disease that could have been avoided by the vaccine.
To conclude, I appreciate the wonderful event, a suitable launch for this critical effort, and hopes that the association and the impact we will have together will strengthen. ”
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, expressed his appreciation for Gavi for his sustained investment in the Nigerian health sector over the years. He pointed out that the government and the people of Nigeria remain grateful and will not assume the association.
“His investment in Nigeria has saved millions of lives and allowed the country of immunization program to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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“Gavi's mission to save lives and protect people's health by increasing the equitable and sustainable use of vaccines aligns with the vision of national HSSB, which is to save lives, reduce physical and financial pain and produce health for all Nigerians.”
He stressed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to making quality health services equitably accessible and affordable for all, and quickly reducing maternal and child mortality. He added that this commitment forms the basis of the current reforms in the Nigeria health sector.
The executive director and CEO of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, praised the gesture and reiterated the agency's commitment to work closely with Gavi and other international partners to ensure that Nigerian children have access to vaccines.
He said: “We had more than 1.7 million of those children in Nigeria were vaccinated as part of the Zero Dose Adoption Operational Plan, the intensification of return immunization, as well as the maximum recovery initiatives that are in progress. We had 91 million children in the five.
“As we begin the implementation of the 3 HSS, since they are being launched today, we will begin to continue seeing more positive and centered improvements in citizens in immunization and PHC services throughout the country.
“We ask for your support on this trip and to participate and give us comments, but we also participate to improve vaccination and primary health care in our country through this program,” he added.
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