German Govt. supports Nigeria with 200m euros for polio eradication in 20 years

By Linda Ike

The German Government says it has contributed more than 200 million euros in the last 20 years for polio eradication in Nigeria.

KfW Portfolio Manager for the German Government Credit Institute for Reconstruction Mission, Mr Vincent El-Haidag, made this known on Wednesday when they visited the Family Health Clinic at Garki, n Abuja.

El-Haidag said there has been a partnership between the governments of Germany and Nigeria in the fight against polio eradication.

“We are responsible for the financial cooperation between the Government of Germany and Government of Nigeria in the fight against polio.

“Germany has been contributing over 200 million euros for the last 20 years, and KfW is facilitating this programme and also giving recommendations to the government of Germany,” he said.

He disclosed that the team was in Nigeria to monitor and assess progress made so far in the eradication of polio in the country.

Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) is an international organisation that works together with its partners in developing countries.

The aim is to identify projects/programmes which promote sustainable development.

He said, “We were able to see very good examples in ranges of services that addresses basic health needs of children and women.”

“The example we saw in the Family Health Clinic needed to be duplicated in all the primary health care centres in the country”.

El-Haidag advised the Nigerian Government to also put same efforts done in polio eradication in the fight against other disease in the country.

The Acting Director, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Vatsa Isa-Yahayac acknowledged that the German Government had been supporting Nigeria in polio eradication by providing resources for the c

He said the team members were taken round the facility to see for themselves how the country has made progress with the fund given to Nigeria.

Isa-Yahaya said that the team is very happy with what they saw at the Family Health Clinic.

“They (the team) are happy with the progress made in the centre, especially in the areas of immunisation, family planning, antenatal services and COVID-19 vaccination,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccination as the virus is still in the country

“The vaccination is free and safe, so people should endeavor to take the vaccine,” he said.