GAVI distributes vehicles, motorbikes to 8 states to strengthen routine immunisationImmunisation

The Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), on Tuesday in Abuja distributed 13 vehicles and 420 motorbikes to Eight states in Nigeria to strengthen routine immunisation for children and women.

GAVI, a public-private health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunisation in poor countries, on Monday promised to give the states US$ 50 million to boost the state health sector.

According to reports, the decision to make the donation was taken at the second bi-annual review health system and review of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with these states in 2019.

The states that benefitted from this project were Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, Taraba, Niger and Bayelsa.

Speaking during the donation, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Secretariat, Mr Asishana Okauru, urged the states to ensure that the funds are judiciously utilized.

He particularly advised the state Deputy Governors and Executive Secretaries of the states Primary Health Care (PHC) to properly maintain the procured items.

According to him, maintenance of the items will influence future funding mechanism by other partners.
“As the chairpersons of your respective state PHC taskforce teams, your excellencies are urged to provide the required oversight of the implementation of this MOU and ensure that funds are judiciously used.

“The performance of these eight states might influence the future funding mechanism utilized by partners. This underscores the essence of your presence at this biannual review meeting.

“It is also an opportunity for cross learning between states. I urge all state teams to integrate the lessons learnt from this meeting to their respective implementation processes to improve outcomes,” he said.

Okauru urged GAVI and other partners like UNICEF, WHO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and others to consider expanding direct engagement with sub-nationals beyond the initial eight MOU states.

According to him, the NGF affirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment to enable such direct engagements thrive as well as ensuring accountability in implementation.