By Admin:
The Federal Government has officially inaugurated the third phase of the Health System Strengthening (HSS-3) programme.
The programme is aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery and bolstering immunization infrastructure, particularly at the grassroots level.
At the event in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics in the ministry, Dr. Kamil Shoretire highlighted Gavi’s continued investment as instrumental in saving millions of lives through Nigeria’s immunization programmes.
He emphasized that Gavi’s mission to promote equitable and sustainable access to vaccines aligns closely with Nigeria’s Health Sector Strategic Blueprint, focusing on saving lives, alleviating suffering, and achieving health for all Nigerians.
Dr. Pate reiterated the present administration’s commitment to ensuring that quality health services are both accessible and affordable, with a particular focus on reducing maternal and child mortality.
The Minister also pointed out that health sector investments are viewed as key dividends of democracy, citing increased allocations in the annual health budget and the mobilization of domestic resources as evidence of the government’s commitment.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, disclosed that Nigeria is set to benefit from a nearly $200 million grant under the HSS-3 from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Dr. Aina described the programme as a major milestone in Nigeria’s health sector, building on the successes recorded in the earlier phases, HSS-1 and HSS-2.
He noted that HSS-2 led to the vaccination of 1.7 million previously unvaccinated children and over 90 million Nigerian children against measles.
The health system also saw the introduction of new vaccines, including HPV, malaria, and mpox, with a record of 13.5 million girls aged 9 to 14 receiving the HPV vaccine under a year.
According to Dr. Aina the HSS-3 phase aims to intensifying outreach, strengthen cold chain systems, digitize immunization records, and encourage adoption of gender-sensitive and community-driven approaches.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, Dr. Sania Nishtar, the organisation’s Senior Specialist, Mr. Alex Beecher, described the HSS-3 grant as one of the most innovative and impactful applications received by the alliance in recent times.
He noted that nearly 80 percent of the funding will support sub-national efforts, with over 10 percent earmarked for civil society organizations, ensuring that resources go directly to the communities most in need.
Also speaking at the event, the UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, reaffirmed their organisation’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s health sector through robust collaboration and shared accountability.
They emphasized that a strong immunization system remains the backbone of effective primary healthcare delivery and serves as a mirror reflecting the overall health of any nation’s health system.
The event drew high-level stakeholders and international development partners, including representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
