Nigeria committed to financing immunisation programmes ― Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria remains committed and focused on finding sustainable ways of financing her immunisation and vaccination obligations.

He gave the assurance while receiving in audience members of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), led by Dr Seth Berkley, at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

A statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), said Buhari 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, noting that “we have experienced various fiscal and security challenges that have hindered our ability to fully finance the vaccines by 2021 as originally planned”.

ALSO READ: Senate will approve Buhari’s request for $30bn loan

The president further said: “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.”

President Buhari pledged that the Federal Government would continue to provide counterpart funds as well as strategies to gradually improve fiscal sustainability by 2028.

Dr 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.