…….As FG assures Commitment to improving Health Sector- Pate
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate has said that about 14 Million US Dollar grant donated to the Federal Government by the Rotary International through World Health Organisation (WHO) will assist the nation to eradicate all variants of polio by 2030.
He announced this while receiving the grant presentation recently at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Expressing his gratitude, the Minister commended the gesture noting that it is an added advantage to the efforts made to reinvigorate Nigeria’s Health Sector in its service delivery.
Pate stated that despite the country’s certification as polio-free, the new funding will significantly contribute to endeavours geared towards eradicating the recorded polio virus variant in parts of the country.
According to him, “Nigeria has received a total grant of US$ 14, 037,787 from Rotary International through the World Health Organisation (WHO), to strengthen polio surveillance in the country.”
The Chairman, Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee (NNPPC), Joshua Hassan stated that an additional grant of $4,514,785 was approved in October, 2023 while on the 10th of January, 2024 another grant of $6,848,002 was approved, totalling $14,037,787.
He said: “These are all one-year grants, which must be fully expended between 31st March 2024 and 2025” adding that Rotary through Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee will continue to support polio eradication and routine immunisation in Nigeria.
In a related development, Pate, while receiving Comrade Michael Nnachi, President of Nigeria Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives in audience stated that “l will do everything possible to create conducive environment for Health and Social workers.”
He assured of Federal Government’s readiness to partner health outlets for rapid progress to achieve its objectives, reminding the association of the need to work assiduously and as a team to move the health sector forward.
Nnachi, while enumerating some of the association’s achievements pledged not to relent in rendering desired services for the good of the nation.
Earlier, receiving the Forum of Heads of Drug Management Agencies of Nigeria in his office, the Minister noted that high cost of pharmaceutical product had pushed a lot of people into poverty which has given rise to counterfeit products in the market.
He urged that efforts should be made in the area of addressing high rate of pharmaceutical products as well as checkmate counterfeit items in the Nigerian market.
He advised that through organising supply chain, production of pharmaceutical items should be harnessed for private and public consumption.
Signed
Patricia Deworitshe
Director, Information
