By Time Nigeria
The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (Gavi) has pledged continued support to Nigeria on routine Immunization, vaccine-preventable diseases and Primary Heath care in general.
The Managing Director, Country Programmes of Gavi in Geneva, MS Hind Khatib Othman gave this assurance during an engagement with the top management of the National Primary Heath Care Development Agency, NPHCDA recently in Abuja.
This was contained in a released signed and made available to Time Nigeria by the Head, Public Relations, NPHCDA Malam Saadu Salahu.
According to the release, “The Gavi MD acknowledged pool of experts and great strengths available in the Agency and gave assurance of Gavi’s continued collaboration to make the agency stronger, credible and accountable.”
Also speaking , Director, Gavi’s Country support, Mr. Pascal Bijleveld said Gavi was putting behind the difficulty of immediate past to refocus, working together with the agency for brighter future, the statement said.
In his contribution, Dr. Karan Singh Sagar, Gavi’s Senior Country Manager attributed Gavi’s renewed confidence in continued working relationship with the agency to the clear demonstration of transparency, accountability and good governance being provided by the new Executive Director of the agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib.
He expressed great optimism in Dr. Faisal’s leadership commitment to bring about great, credible and accountable NPHCDA that all Nigerians would soon be proud of.
In a short presentation to the Gavi team, the Executive Director, NPHCDA highlighted his 4–point agenda to restore stakeholders’ confidence in the agency and to change the Primary health care landscape in Nigeria.
“The 4-point agenda are: Strengthen Governance and accountability, Closing out on polio, Strengthen routine Immunization and supply chain and PHC revitalization.
“He emphasized the need to reposition the agency for actualization of efficient and effective delivery of its mandate which he has demonstrated by the engagement of two globally acclaimed firms; McKinsey and KPMG.
“Dr. Faisal assured the Gavi team that necessary structures and mechanism have been put in place to block possible financial loopholes and prevent mismanagement of resources in the agency.” The statement concluded.