‘Kogi, Benue, Taraba’ — WHO to spend $9.3m grant in 15 states with low COVID vaccination rate

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it will implement a $9.3 million grant from the Canadian government in 15 states performing lowest in COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria.

Walter Mulombo, the WHO country representative, spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during the launch of Canada’s global initiative for vaccine equity (CanGIVE) grant.

Mulombo said the grant would be implemented in Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Anambra, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo.

“It will help to mainstream and integrate gender-responsive, equity-based and human rights-focused interventions that promote leaving no one behind agenda in the country,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“The grant has come at the right time to help improve coverage and uptake of the vaccine among the priority populations in line with the current WHO SAGE roadmap on uses of COVID-19 vaccines.”

The country representative said Nigeria has made progress in the fight against COVID-19.

He said 77,285, 627 persons in Nigeria have completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccination as of July 17, with 87,838,137 persons receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.

“Also, 16,011,524 of those who have completed the primary series have received a booster dose of the vaccine,” he said.

Mulombo said in spite of the achievement, there was still more work to be done.

“As of now, 14 states are performing less than 50 percent vaccination coverage of their target population, and we still have some vulnerable populations that are not sufficiently covered,” he said.

“Key among these subgroups are the aged (50 years and above), people with co-morbidities, the health workers, people living in humanitarian and security compromised communities and the pregnant women.”

According to the most recent data published by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Ondo has the lowest number of fully vaccinated people with a figure of 433,096, followed by Ebonyi with 457,396 and Kogi with 469,751.