Rotary Provides $14m Grant to Nigeria for Polio Eradication

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Rotary International has given $14,037,787 to Nigeria to eradicate polio.

Speaking while receiving the grant yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, said it would assist the country to eradicate all variants of polio by 2030.

According to the minister, the grant came as a result of a comprehensive, sector-wide strategy aimed at revitalising the health sector, a direct outcome of the partnership forged between the Nigerian government and its development partners.

He said the approval of the grant is to strengthen polio surveillance and in recognition of the strides made by the country over the years in ending the disease.

Pate, who expressed delight at the grant, noted that since the country has been certified polio-free, the new grant would go a long way towards efforts to eliminate the poliovirus variant that has been recorded in some parts of the country.

Pate explained that the new funding would significantly contribute to initiatives aimed at eradicating the recorded poliovirus variant in parts of the country.

He expressed gratitude for Rotary’s gesture, saying it aligned with the federal government’s comprehensive sector-wide approach to revitalise the country’s health sector.

The minister also acknowledged the organisation’s contributions to the ongoing efforts in disease eradication, assuring the donor that the grant would be put to good use and for the purpose it was meant for.

Pate said: “We will use this resources prudently and efficiently the highest level of integrity, transparency and accountability.

“I want to give the assurance that we will use this resources to serve the people for whom you intended this contribution to serve and for the global agenda of improving the health security of Nigerians.”

The Chairman, Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee (NNPPC), Joshua Hassan, in his speech, said the Rotary Foundation Trustees, at their January 2023 meeting, approved a grant of US$2,675,000.00 to support polio eradication in Nigeria through the World Health Organisation (WHO) -Nigeria for Surveillance.

Hassan, who was a District Governor of Rotary Nigeria, while making the presentation, said an additional grant of $4,514,785 was approved in October 2023 while on January 10, another grant of $ 6,848,002 was approved, totaling $14,037,787.

He said: “These are all one-year grants, which must be fully expended between  March 31 2024 and 2025,” pledging further technical support for the country.

According to him, “Rotary, through Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee (NNPPC) will continue to support polio eradication and routine immunisation in Nigeria through National Emergency Polio Operation Centre (NEOC) technical support providing accountability, training frontline polio field workers award, and recognition of good performance as well as community/social mobilisation efforts to improve OPV acceptance and non-compliance resolution.”

Speaking via zoom, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, applauded Rotary, and pledged the organisation’s commitment to diligently oversee the utilisation of the grant.