GAVI Boosts Immunisation With 433 Vehicles, Motorcycles In States

GAVI, the vaccine alliance, has supported Nigeria with 13 Toyota Hilux vehicles and 420 motorcycles to strengthen Routine Immunisation (RI) and primary health care systems in eight states across the country.

The states are Bayelsa, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Zamfara and Taraba.

The executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, who spoke at the second Bi-annual Partners Review Meeting on Primary Health Care (PHC) MoU in Abuja, noted that primary health delivery was principally about reaching the underserved population in the communities, adding that the vehicles and motor cycles would strengthen COVID-19 and childhood immunisation in hard-to-reach communities.

Represented by the director of PHC Development, Dr Ngozi Nwosu, Shuaib said “The vehicles we are receiving today is yet another demonstration of true partnership and commitment of GAVI to the health and wellbeing of Nigerian people.”

The director-general, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Asishana Okauru, said, “Unlike the previous MoUs which were between partners and the federal government, this MoU is directly between GAVI and the eight states.”

He said the purpose of the MoU was to assist the eight MoU states strengthen their Routine Immunization and PHC systems which would significantly contribute to the reduction of zero dose, mortality from vaccine preventable diseases and accelerate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.