Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has launched the Canadian Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity, CANGIVE, Grant to boost Covid-19 vaccine delivery in Nigeria.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Jamie Christoff, said the grant is designed to strengthen Covid-19 vaccine delivery systems to reach high-priority and marginalized groups, enhance the integration of the Covid-19 vaccine to routine health service and scale up regional vaccine production capacity.
Christoff said this during the launch in Abuja the nation’s capital.
He said; “Under CanGIVE, the WHO project will be implemented in 7 countries, with Nigeria receiving the greatest share of Nine million Canadian Dollars. Nigeria was also amongst the first countries to receive Covid-19 vaccine doses from Canada in September of 2021, and l am pleased to be able to continue Canada’s support to Nigeria with this latest project.”
Christoff said that “the partnership with the WHO, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization and Medicines Patent Pool, CanGIVE is designed to achieve three things: To strengthen 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.”
“CanGIVE will also target improved access to Covid-19 vaccines for humanitarian contexts. For example, here in Nigeria, UNICEF will ensure cold chain equipment remains functional and health facilities’ access to water and sanitation is unhindered in hard-to-reach areas,” he added.
The Director General/Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Faisal Shuaib said that while the country has made significant progress, it still has work to do.
Dr Shuaib noted that several states have a series of coverage below 70% and booster doses account for over 20% of vaccinations.
“Therefore, this grant targets states with lower performance and aims to reach high-priority populations,” he said.
According to him, the grant which is to be implemented through the WHO, will also contribute to strengthening the health system, addressing service delivery inequities and gender disparities at the sub-national level.
He said; “We are confident that WHO will continue to support Nigeria’s efforts to enhance vaccine delivery, distribution, and public confidence, as well as generate demand.”
Dr. Shuaib said that the states targeted for implementation were; Ondo, Rivers, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi, Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Ogun, Katsina, Taraba, Anambra, Kebbi, and Edo.
He, therefore assured the Canadian government, donors, and partners that the Nigerian Government was fully committed to sustaining and improving Covid-19 and routine immunization performance as well as other Primary Health Care services.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative Office in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo said despite Nigeria’s achievement, there was still more work to be done.
“Together with partners and the Federal Government of Nigeria, we would dedicate sustained attention and resources to preparedness and resilience to counter future threats.”
Mulombo promised that the WHO would continue to provide technical support to implement one health approach to preparedness, and response and integrate Covid-19 surveillance and response activities into routine health programmes.
“It is for such partnership and collaboration that I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the support from the Canadian government for the CanGIVE Grant, the grant has come at the right time to help improve coverage and uptake of the vaccine among the priority populations in line with the current WHO roadmap on usage of Covid-19 vaccines,” he said.
Surveillance
The Director-General, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, While expressing the agency’s appreciation for the grant, said that surveillance was crucial as it contributes to the prevention and management of infectious diseases.
He said; “The surveillance was important in helping the country monitor and evaluate emerging patterns and trends of disease.”
The NCDC boss disclosed that the agency would be getting about $1.4 million Canadian to strengthen a broader health system in Nigeria.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
