The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that Rotary International has committed more funds to support Nigeria in its efforts to eradicate all forms of polioviruses, especially the Circulating Variant Poliovirus (cVPV2).
In a statement on the WHO’s WhatsApp page, it said that the new grant, amounting to 14,037,787 dollars, would cover a one-year period to enable the WHO provide technical assistance to the Nigerian government on polio surveillance.
The grant would be to avert a resurgence of wild polio and eradicate cVPV2, which continues to pose a challenge in the country.
The WHO said that while Nigeria achieved the certification of being wild polio-free in August 2020, the nation was currently grappling with the presence of the cVPV2.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, underscored the broader impact of supporting surveillance, not only for polio but also for enhancing the country’s ability to combat other infectious diseases.
Pate said that the bigger picture was that it supported surveillance and strengthening the country’s ability to anticipate, investigate and respond to other infectious diseases that could threaten national and global security.
“We assure you that the resources will be utilised for the overall goal of enhancing health security in Nigeria,” he said.