Make $181m Available For Immunization – NIFT Tells FG


By Chioma Umeha

LAGOS – National Immunization Financing Task Team (NIFT) advocacy committee members have called on the Federal Government to meet its $181million immunization funding requirement for 2017 and 2018. This they said would save the lives of seven million Nigerian children.
Project director, Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR), Dr. Aminu Magashi, while speaking with journalists in Lagos said the federal government needs to scale-up plans towards fund mobilization for immunization.
As the country begins its transition process for the Vaccine Alliance support in Nigeria, Magashi said close to $264million is required for immunization between Nigeria and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and Nigeria is expected to commit $181million out of the $264million to fund immunization program.
He said the funds should be factored into the 2017 budget to create sufficient time to order for vaccines needed to save the lives of nearly seven million children born yearly who will need vaccination.
He said, “In times of scares resources for health, it is advised that the Nigerian government should begin to plan on how to commence local production of some of the vaccines needed in Nigeria to reduce the funding burden and also improve private-public partnership for immunization financing in Nigeria.”
Head and Director, Communications, Advocacy and Communications Department, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mr Eugene Ivase said the government of Nigeria through the NPHCDA has made significant progress in Routine Immunization (RI).
However, Ivase said Nigeria faces an enormous funding gap for the immunization programme due to the cost of additional vaccines, expanding birth cohort, loss of funding following GAVI graduation and insufficient budgetary allocation to vaccines. To fill the gap, he said Nigeria needs to secure progressively more money for its vaccine program starting from 29 Billion Naira in 2016 and rising to an estimated 63 Billion Naira by 2020.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Information Frustrates Young Women From Using Family Planning

Image
BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Awareness and proper understanding of family planning has been recognised to reduce maternal death among young women of reproductive age between 15 and 49. Data on Sexual Reproductive Health outcomes in Nigeria stresses the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal death per 1,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (NDHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. (NDHS 2003, 2008, 2013). The National adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria is 122 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. In the North Western States, it is as high as 171 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. To stem this, the government of Lagos State with support from partners and other donor agencies has put in place youth-friendly he
Read more

Nestle Takes Action To Promote Safe Food And Empowers Food Vendors

Image
By Umeha Ucheoma Ogun Photo:  Funmi Osineye, Manager, Nestlé Professional Nigeria, educating the participants on the use of MAGGI seasoning. The quality and cost of these items for consumers are two factors that experts advise food businesses to always take into consideration.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a balanced diet is important for both excellent nutrition and health, and it may also lengthen life.  A variety of chronic non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, can be prevented by eating a balanced diet, which also strengthens muscles, improves immunity, strengthens bones, and keeps skin, teeth, and eyes healthy. Sadly, in a low-income nation like Nigeria, the caterers, food sellers, canteens, and "bukkas" that cater to this market sector do not always receive the support they require to offer wholesome, affordable meals that may guarantee that their clients receive the nutrients needed for optimum health.  However,
Read more

SDGs: FG Approves Nigeria's Alliance For Youth

Image
By Ucheoma Umeha  Ogun L to R: Akinlonu Foluso, Director Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development; Sunday Dare, Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development: Shakiru Lawal, Country HR Manager, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, at the launch of Alliance for Youth Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has signed on to the initiative as a development partner to the alliance, recently. President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern over Nigeria's rapidly growing population, claiming that the country is one of the few whose fertility is still increasing despite being the largest in Africa and ranking seventh globally. According to the United Nations 2022 World Population Day estimate, Nigeria's population will reach 216 million in 2022 at a pace of 3.2 percent annual growth.  According to Buhari, fertility depends on a young population, with over 72 percent of the population being under 30 years old and half of the female residents being between
Read more