President Muhammadu Buhari has given an assurance that Nigeria remains committed and focused on finding sustainable ways of financing her immunisation and vaccination obligations.
The president gave the assurance when he received in audience members of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation led by Dr Seth Berkley at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The Nigerian leader thanked GAVI for its over one billion dollars support to Nigeria since 2001, especially through the provision of vaccines to millions of people across the country.
He said: “We have experienced various fiscal and security challenges that have hindered our ability to fully finance the vaccines by 2021 as originally planned.
“I am, therefore, pleased that GAVI has extended its co-financing support period from 2021 to 2028, and has also committed over three billion dollars in new funding for vaccines, cold chain infrastructure and health system strengthening across the country.”
Buhari pledged that the Federal Government would continue to provide counterpart funds as well as strategies to gradually improve fiscal sustainability by 2028.
Earlier in his remarks, Berkley commended what he called “increase in national immunisation coverage between 2016 and now,” saying there was excellent inter-ministerial collaboration to achieve the milestone.
He urged state governments to invest in vaccination and immunisation, adding that poverty reduction must equally be a goal in the country.
Trending
- Traditional ruler shot dead inside palace
- Primate Ayodele to Yoruba Nation agitators: You can’t break Nigeria
- Police intercept bags of Indian Hemp at Lagos jetty
- Enugu, families to give Ibu, Junior Pope befitting burial
- Police arrest suspects for attempting to disrupt inauguration of commissioners
- Police rescue three children locked up by grandmother + Photo
- Police foil attack in Katsina, neutralise suspected bandit
- US vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership