Canada Donates $9.2 Million to Boost COVID-19 Vaccination in Nigeria

Ilesanmi AdekanbiJuly 20, 2023

1 minute read

The Canadian Government has shown its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to vaccinate its population against COVID-19 by donating $9,261,920 to the World Health Organization (WHO) project in the country.

The project aims to improve the delivery and uptake of COVID-19 vaccine services among high-priority risk groups, such as health workers, elderly people, and people with underlying conditions.

The donation was announced on Wednesday, July 19, at the launch of the Canada Global Initiative for Vaccine (CanGIVE) grant in Abuja, by the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Jamie Christoff. He said that although COVID-19 is no longer a global emergency, it is still vital to strengthen public health systems as part of a holistic and sustainable recovery from the pandemic.

Christoff also highlighted the long-standing partnership between Canada and WHO to support Nigeria in preventing and controlling diseases and protecting the most vulnerable.

He said;

“We must deliberately link up these efforts with routine immunisation 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 CanGIVE, the WHO project will be implemented in seven countries, where Nigeria receives the largest share of $9 million Canadian Dollars. Nigeria was also among the first countries to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses from Canada in September of 2021, and I am delighted to be able to continue Canada’s support to Nigeria with this latest project.”

The grant is expected to enhance information management and disease surveillance data, including gender-responsive data. The states where the grant will be implemented include Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Kebbi, Katsina, Anambra, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo.