Rotary International has donated $14 million in grants to support the efforts to eradicate polio in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, Mr. Joshua Hassan, presented the cheques to Professor Ali Pate, the Co-ordinating Minister of health and Social Welfare in Abuja, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mr. Hassan explained that the grants, facilitated through the World Health Organisation (WHO), are intended for surveillance and to offer technical assistance to the ministry in its polio eradication initiatives.
‘’We are therefore pleased to inform the general public that the Rotary Foundation Trustees, at their January 2023 meeting, approved a grant of $2,675,000.00 to support polio eradication in Nigeria through WHO Nigeria for Surveillance. An additional grant of $4,514,785 dated October 20, 2023 was again approved by Rotary Foundation Trustees for surveillance by WHO. On January 10, 2024, another grant was approved in the sum of $6,848,002 for technical assistants, making a total of US$ 14,037,787,” he explained.
Mr. Hassan informed the Minister that, till date, the organization has contributed over $1.5 billion towards ending polio, with more than $500 million in grants dedicated to supporting polio eradication activities in Nigeria over the last decade.
He expressed Rotary’s commitment, through the Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, to support polio eradication and routine immunisation in Nigeria.
Responding, Professor Ali Pate, the Co-ordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, expressed gratitude to Rotary International for its role in Nigeria’s success in curbing wild polio transmission and also commended them for their global efforts.
‘’And while polio is just one virus, there is a lot more around the eradication of the variant polio virus.
“So, if you support surveillance, you also strengthen the ability of this country to anticipate surveillance and respond to other infectious diseases that could threaten our national and global security.
“So, there is a bigger picture within which this contribution actually fits. So we thank you,’’ he said.
Prof. Pate gave assurance that the resources would be utilized for the overall goal of enhancing health security in Nigeria.
The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, while commending Rotary International for the donation, said there was need to reinforce efforts on surveillance and border surveillance until Nigeria achieves its objective of eradicating polio virus.
He urged the government to utilise the funds effectively and ensure transparency and accountability in alignment with the principles of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the compact signed in December 2023.
Dr. Mulombo added that the WHO would ensure that the use of the funds does not result in any form of misconduct, including sexual exploitation arising from campaign and surveillance activities funded by the grant. (vitalnewsngr.com)
