Jumoke Olasunkanmi
Gavi’s Managing Director, Thabani Maphosa, has assured that the organisation considers Nigeria a priority in its commitment to enhancing healthcare, while commending the country’s efforts at revitalising primary healthcare.
He said this in Abuja on Wednesday when Gavi’s Managing Director, Thabani Maphosa, Senior Country Manager, Jessica Crawford and David Marlow, met with the Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, to discuss ways to improve primary healthcare in the country.
Mr Marlow noted that Gavi’s commitment to enhancing primary healthcare in Nigeria is evident in the $2.2 billion investment in the country’s vaccination and primary healthcare sector.
While applauding the progress that Nigeria has made in terms of vaccination and primary health care, he noted that there is a need for improvement, particularly to reduce preventable child mortality.
Nigeria currently has the third highest infant mortality rate in the world with 54.740 deaths per 1000 live births, according to United Nations World Population Prospects.
On his part, Dr. Shuaib acknowledged Gavi’s support and called for collaboration to tackle disease outbreaks in the country.
He also urged for support in the production of vaccines locally and continued investments in stimulating demand for primary healthcare, especially in specific areas of the country.
