Nigeria needs at least $1.6bn (one point six billion US dollars) over the next ten years to support the purchase of vaccines and immunization activities if it hopes to drastically reduce child-killer diseases. This was made known to senators by a delegation from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), World Health Organisation and other international donors.
TVC News National Assembly Correspondent Sumner Sambo reports that International donors supported by WHO, UNICEF and World Bank are on a visit following appeals by Nigeria for an extension of the deadline for withdrawal of funding assistance by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) with effect from 2021 to 2028.
During a presentation, federal health authorities said Nigeria requires about one point six billion dollars to boost vaccine production and immunization.
The senators informed the delegation that though the insurgency in the Northeast may have reversed some gains recorded in kicking out childhood diseases, they will allocate more funding for vaccine preventable diseases.