The Federal Government in collaboration with the Canadian government and the World Health Organisation have launched a $9 million Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity Grant to boost vaccination in 15 states in Nigeria.
According to Tribune, the states targeted for implementation include Ondo, Rivers, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi, Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Ogun, Katsina, Taraba, Anambra, Kebbi, and Edo.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib at the launch in Abuja, explained that the grant, which will be implemented through the World Health Organization, will also contribute to strengthening the health system, addressing service delivery inequities and gender disparities at the sub-national level.
Speaking further, the Shuaib also expressed confidence WHO will continue to support Nigeria’s efforts to enhance vaccine delivery, distribution, and public confidence, as well as generate demand.
Shuaib said, through partners, the immunization stakeholders present here today have been supporting Nigeria in strengthening routine immunization and primary healthcare systems adding that this support has now been extended to include the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“The COVID-19 pandemic affected the world, and Nigeria was not spared. Although our case burden has not been as high as in other parts of the world, we have implemented measures, including vaccination, to break transmission within our communities and enhance immunity, particularly among the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, priority groups, and indeed the entire country.”
Shuaib recalled that the COVID-19 vaccination program was launched in Nigeria on March 5, 2021, as he thanked the support of the federal government, state governments, and all partners, disclosed that Nigeria has reached over 75% of the target population of individuals aged 18 and above with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The program has been implemented in phases, ensuring that eligible populations are reached and no one is left behind. Nigeria was among the first countries to establish an electronic registry and integrate COVID-19 vaccination with other primary healthcare services.
“Our ‘One Country, One Team, One Plan, One Budget’ approach reflects our commitment to integrating lessons learned during and after the pandemic into our healthcare system.
“While we have made significant progress, we still have work to do. Several states have primary series coverage below 70%, and booster doses account for just over 20% of vaccinations.”
He therefore, said the grant targets states with lower performance and aims to reach high-priority populations as he assured the Canadian government, donors and partners that the Federal Government of Nigeria is fully committed to sustaining and improving COVID-19 and routine immunization performance, along with other primary healthcare services.
Also speaking, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jamie Christoff said Canada is delighted to be partnering with the WHO in support of the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria through Canada’s signature Initiative for Vaccine Equity, also known as CanGIVE Christoff further said this important project is another example of Canada’s historical institutional relationship with the WHO to support Nigeria in the critical work for preventing disease and protecting those most at risk
He said: “We have seen the powerful results that can happen in these partnerships such as Canada’s support to the elimination of wild poliovirus in Nigeria.
“While COVID-19 is no longer a global emergency, it is still important to reinforce public health systems as part of an inclusive and sustainable recovery. We must intentionally link up these efforts with routine immunization and other services.
“This can help to reach children who missed routine vaccinations over the pandemic. We know that ultimately, it takes a health system to turn a vaccine into vaccination.”
The High Commissioner also disclosed that under CanGIVE, the WHO project will be implemented in 7 countries, with Nigeria receiving the greatest share of $9 million Canadian Dollars.
“Nigeria was also amongst the first countries to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses from Canada in September of 2021, and I am pleased to be able to continue Canada’s support to Nigeria with this latest project.
“In partnership with the WHO, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization and Medicines Patent Pool, CanGIVE is designed to achieve the strengthening of COVID-19 vaccine delivery systems and community outreach to reach high-priority and marginalized groups.
“To enhance the integration of COVID-19 vaccines into routine health services in a way that strengthens the broader health system, including to increase gender-responsiveness; and To scale up regional vaccine production capacity to bring manufacturing closer to populations in need,” he added.
Meanwhile, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo said the Canada Global Initiative, aims to support country-led efforts to expedite COVID-19 vaccine delivery and distribution amongst high-priority risk groups, increase vaccine confidence and generate demand.
According to Molumbo: “It focuses on community engagement, within the context of addressing inequities in service delivery and disparities in gender at sub-national geographical locations.
“The grant will enable the WHO Nigeria country office provide technical support to strengthen health systems specially for data management and surveillance linked to the Transforming African Surveillance Systems (TASS) Flagship initiative, increase COVID-19 vaccine demand generation and uptake in an integrated mode with routine immunization and other PHC services.
“The permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, as you might be aware, WHO and other partners collaborated with the Government through its Agency; NPHCDA and other local NGOs and CBOs to work very hard to put the COVID-19 disease under control in Nigeria. Several strategies including SCALES 3.0, integration of COVID-19 into routine immunization, have been employed to deliver the vaccine to the target population.
“The country has made progress in the fight against COVID-19. As of 17 July 2023, 77,285, 627 persons in Nigeria have completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccination, with, 87,838,137 persons receiving at least one dose of the vaccine and 16,011,524 of those who have completed the primary series received a booster dose of the vaccine.”
He, however, said, despite this achievement, there is still more work to be done adding that as of now, 14 states are performing less than 50 per cent vaccination coverage of their target population,
“We still have some vulnerable populations that are not sufficiently covered. Key among these subgroups are the aged (50 years and above), people with co-morbidities, the health workers, people living in humanitarian and security compromised communities and the pregnant women.” He added.
