Japan’s N1.2 bn donation targets polio, malaria; Nigeria

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday received a grant of N1.2 billion ($ 8.5 million) for child survival programmes in Nigeria. Donated by the Government of Japan, the grant is for polio eradication, routine immunisation and the prevention of malaria. According to a statement made available to BusinessDay by UNICEF, although Nigeria is making progress in reducing its high child mortality rate, some challenges remain that need to be addressed if the country is to achieve the health MDGs. Childhood killer diseases are still rampant.
Malaria alone is said to be responsible for one quarter of deaths of children while vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, tetanus or whooping cough are also among the major causes of child mortality. In addition, the wild polio virus is still endemic in Nigeria, although great strides have been taken in recent times to ensure interruption of wild polio virus in the country in the months ahead.

The level of child mortality can be reduced with simple interventions such as immunisation and the use of insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria.

According to UNICEF the grant would contribute to stopping Wild Poliovirus transmission in Nigeria by the end of 2010; strengthen the immunisation cold chain system and contribute to the reduction in deaths and illnesses due to Malaria.
The UN agency said this year’s contribution from Japan would be used to provide Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for use against polio during Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) and to procure cold rooms to strengthen immunisation cold chain system. It will also be used to procure Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) for malaria control to complement national efforts of universal coverage of two nets per household in Nigeria by 2010 and support social communication to empower families and communities with knowledge, skills and tools that will improve the chances of children to survive.

BusinessDay newspaper

Friday, 21 August 2009 01:13 MAX Amuchie