The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed its readiness to partner with the Global Alliance For Vaccine Initiatives (Gavi) to produce disease Preventable Vaccines in Nigeria.
The Minister of Health and the Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate stated this on Wednesday when he led a high-power delegation from the ministry, Gavi Alliance, World Health Organisation, UNICEF on courtesy and call on the Governor of Sokoto State.
The Minister said Nigeria would be addressing rising medicine costs by tapping into global vaccine production supported by the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiatives (GAVI) to intensify local production.
He explained that some diseases are preventable when children are vaccinated against them.
” You know diseases like Measles, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis, Tetanus, and others are preventable, and prevention is better than cure hence the need to vaccinate children against them.
“The international agencies have been supporting the State through Federal Government on immunization”_;’
“We are here in Sokoto to engage the State Government on improving vaccination of children in the State”
On her part, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Global Alliance For Vaccine Initiatives ( GaVI) Dr Sania Nishtar urged Sokoto State Government to intensify advocacy for children’s immunization against preventable diseases.
She explained that GAVI has spent about $2 million in Nigeria on vaccine production.
She noted that Nigeria has special status with Global Alliance For Vaccine Initiatives
Also speaking the Director General of National Primary Health Care Agency Dr Muyi Aina lauded Sokoto State Government on infrastructural development in primary health care.
He urged Sokoto State Government to sustain the tempo and improve existing facilities at the primary health care centres.
Responding Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State thanked the delegation for the visit.
Represented by his Deputy Eng. Muhammad Idris Gobir, Aliyu said his administration is poise to providing quality health care service delivery to the people of the State.
He explained that the State has intensified its commitment on sensitization of parents to immunized their wards against killer diseases
He intimated the Minister on the outbreak of Ascites in Isa local government of the State stressing that the State Government through the ministry of Health has already written memo to federal ministry of health on that
The delegation also visited Sultanate council where they commended Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, for his advocacy on immunization.
In his response, Sultan said the council would continue to intensify its advocacy till all children in the state have access to vaccines against killer diseases.
The delegation later went into close-door meeting with Sultanate council and his team including the Emir of Argungun, Alhaji Samaila Mera, in Kebbi.