The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its goal to vaccinate 50 percent of the Nigerian population against COVID-19 in 2021.
In order to achieve this goal and augment its efforts, it has partnered with local and international organisations, including the African Union.
Its efforts, notwithstanding, the urgency of the problems associated with the pandemic and the discovery of a new and more dangerous strain of the virus makes the acquisition and administration of the virus crucial.
Organisations understanding this need have pledged their support to Nigeria.
Below are four of such organisations:
MTN: Consistent with its history of dedication to the health sector and the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria, and the African continent, MTN has made a donation of $25 million to support the African Union’s COVID-19 vaccination programme. The donation is to help secure up to seven million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for health workers across the continent.
Nigeria will receive the highest allocation of the vaccines as it is expected that one-sixth of the vaccines will be delivered to Nigeria.
WHO: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that Nigeria will receive 16 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccines out of the 88 million doses allocated to Africa by COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access).
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulomboo, the WHO Country Representative for Nigeria, confirmed during a press conference that Nigeria has received the largest allocation of all the countries in Africa.
The vaccines are expected to arrive in Nigeria at the end of February.
UK Government: According to the UK Government, Nigeria has been listed by the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), as one of the first countries to receive 16 million free doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility. The vaccines would cover at least 20 percent of the Nigerian population, and the UK would be playing a supportive role in ensuring an effective and equitable introduction of COVID-19 vaccines.
The doses are expected to be received in the first half of this year.
CACOVID: The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), is a Nigerian private sector alliance of Nigerian corporations. The organisation pulls resources across industries to provide technical, operational and financial support during the pandemic. Its members include Aliko Dangote Foundation, Access Bank, UBA, Guaranty Trust Bank and MTN.
The organisation has pledged to contribute $100 million to procure vaccines for Nigeria.
The fight against COVID-19 requires the collective effort of all stakeholders. The efforts of these organisations are laudable and should, therefore, be emulated.
