The Canadian government has given the government $9.2 million dollars to advance its COVID-19 vaccine service provision among the high-priority risks category and to build up the health industry.
The High Commissioner of Canada to the country, Jamie Christoff, said during the revealing of the initiative for the Vaccine grant in Abuja that the program was proof of Canada’s partnership with WHO. This partnership is to assist the country in mitigating and protecting the vulnerable citizens from diseases.
The Commissioner said that inasmuch as COVID-19 was no longer a pandemic, it was still necessary to fortify the public health industry as an inclusion in a continuous recovery system.
The Commissioner further quoted that “We must intentionally link up these efforts with routine immunization and other services. This can help, for example, to reach children who missed routine vaccinations over the pandemic. We know that ultimately, it takes a health system to turn a vaccine into vaccination.”
“Under Can GIVE, the WHO project will be implemented in seven countries, with Nigeria receiving the greatest share of 9m Canadian dollars. Nigeria was also amongst the first countries to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses from Canada in September of 2021, and I am pleased to be able to continue Canada’s support to Nigeria with this latest project.”
Dr Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organisation Country Representative Office in Nigeria, said the scheme was just on time as it will aid in advancing the reach and intake of the vaccine amongst the main citizens.
Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said about 75% of the focused citizens between the ages of 18 and above have received at least one dose of the vaccine since the inception of the COVI-19 vaccination initiative in March 5th 2021.
