Canada Gives Nigeria $9.2M For COVID-19 Grants to Boost Vaccination

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and international organizations are putting concerted efforts to build more robust health systems and ensure access to vaccines for all. This has become even more significant in developing nations, where health systems are still a work in progress. An exemplar of this commitment is the recent $9,261,920 COVID-19 grants from the Canadian government to Nigeria to support the expansion of COVID-19 vaccine services, particularly among high-priority risk groups, as well as strengthening the country’s health system.

The grant, part of the Canada Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE), was launched in Abuja, with the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Jamie Christoff, emphasizing Canada’s enduring institutional relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) in providing support to Nigeria. Even as COVID-19 has transitioned from a global emergency status, the need to reinforce public health systems remains pivotal for an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

The CanGIVE grant aims to integrate COVID-19 management into Nigeria’s health information systems. This move will significantly enhance information management and disease surveillance data, including gender-responsive data – an essential aspect in achieving health equity in pandemic response.

In order to ensure the most effective utilization of these COVID-19 grants, a strategic and methodical approach has been adopted. The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Nigeria, Faisal Shuaib, explained that the vaccination programme has been implemented in phases. This methodology guarantees that eligible populations are reached, and no one is left behind. According to Shuaib, over 75% of the target population has been reached with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since the start of the program.

The CanGIVE grant has a specific focus on states with lower performance to reach high-priority populations and elevate overall vaccination rates in the country. Some of the states targeted for implementation include Ondo, Rivers, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi, Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Ogun, Katsina, Taraba, Anambra, Kebbi, and Edo. The approach is designed to not only aid in the current COVID-19 vaccination efforts but to also serve as a platform for strengthening Nigeria’s health system in the long run.

The WHO’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, has stated that this grant comes at a crucial time to help improve coverage and uptake of the vaccine among priority populations. As of now, 14 states in Nigeria are performing at less than 50 per cent vaccination coverage of their target population, underlining the critical need for this initiative.

The Canada-Nigeria partnership in the fight against COVID-19 exemplifies the power of international cooperation in addressing global health crises. As the world seeks sustainable recovery from the pandemic, such COVID-19 grants provide a lifeline to developing countries, helping them strengthen their health systems and scale up vaccination efforts.

In conclusion, COVID-19 grants like CanGIVE represent the commitment of developed nations to help resource-challenged countries build stronger health systems. In the context of Nigeria, this grant will aid in enhancing disease surveillance, improving data management, ensuring equitable vaccination coverage, and ultimately, strengthening the nation’s overall health system. This investment in health infrastructure is a clear testament to the fact that in our interconnected world, a health crisis anywhere is a health crisis everywhere.