By Abubakar Yunusa
The Federal Government has given an update on the latest COVID-19 vaccination exercise, saying that as of 2nd January 2023, 63,573,798 million of the total eligible population target for COVID-19 vaccination are fully vaccinated.
The central government also disclosed that a total of 12,151,775 persons of the total eligible population target for COVID-19 vaccination are partially vaccinated.
The Minister of Health, Doctor Osagie Ehanire gave the update in Abuja yesterday at the 17th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration Scorecard Series.
He said during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) took several proactive actions to vaccinate Nigerians in order to achieve herd immunity required to interrupt COVID-19 community transmission in the country.
He said COVID-19 vaccines that are safe and effective were procured and Nigerians across all 6 geopolitical zones were sensitized on the need to avail themselves for complete doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
“The successful containment of COVID-19 virus pandemic was one the Hallmarks of this administration. Nigeria’s exemplary response was acknowledged globally especially with regards adherence to International Health Regulations (IHR)2005 as well as prompt management of a Pandemic across a variance of contexts which Nigeria possesses,” the Health Minister said.
He noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari took over office in May 2015 and quickly went into action to strengthen our healthcare system, especially at the primary level of care.
“Firstly, we revised the National Health Policy (2016); to ensure that Nigeria is well positioned to enter into the Sustainable Development Goals agenda era, with the right enabling and supportive policy environment,” he said.
He added that the Second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II) was also developed to ensure that budget appropriations to the health sector align with and national health sector priorities and strategies at all levels of governance.
“The sector was also able to develop about 8 policies, 13 strategic plans and 13 National Guidelines,” he said.
He said during the period, the Health Ministry was able to work with the National Assembly to pass laws backing actions of the Ministry.
These laws, he said, includes the National Blood Service Commission Act, the NHIA Act which ensures the achieving of UHC for all Nigerians, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Establishment) Act, 2018 and the the Mental health Act.
He said to actualize the vision of making Primary Healthcare work for Nigerians, the Ministry flagged-off the Revitalization of the 10,000 Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs, (1 PHC per ward) nationwide with the launching of Kuchingoro PHC, Abuja on the 10th of January, 2017.
“We have sustained that initiative by ensuring that at least 1 PHC per ward get direct funding through the Decentralized Financing Facility (DFF) approach,” he said, adding that as of today, over 7,835 of the 8809 Federal political wards have been authorized.
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