Fg Receives $125m Loan From World Bank To Fight Polio

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, AUGUST 25, (THEWILL) – Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has revealed that the Federal Government has obtained a $125million loan from the World Bank to tackle fresh cases of polio and other health challenges in the country.

Adewole made this known while briefing the Senate Committee on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases in Abuja saying that with approval of the National Assembly, 60 million dollars would be earmarked for polio, while the remaining 65 million dollars would be used for the procurement of vaccines.

He also disclosed that N10 billion had been released by the Federal Government from the 2016 budget to tackle the epidemic as he decried the fresh outbreak of the disease.

The Minister said that about N30 billion would be required to tackle the menace adding that following the outbreak, no fewer than 800,000 children under the age of five years had been immunised in five local government areas in Borno State.

“The resurgence of polio is an unusual development and a major setback considering the investment of the international community, and the whole world was looking forward to celebrate Nigeria next year,” he said.

“I wasn't expecting polio as a challenge; I was expecting teenage pregnancy and other health challenges.

“We want to assume there could be many more of the cases, we are looking for more cases.”

Adewole said the ministry had flagged off response channels while the team monitoring and managing the disease was working to ensure that it was nipped in the bud adding that the ministry will embark on six-round response programmes to immunize children under five in the whole of the country and neighbouring countries, to ensure that every potential child is immunized.

Story by David Oputah