Federal government is seeking to access a $125 million dollar World Bank loan to tackle polio and to procure routine vaccine in the country, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.
Adewole, who was briefing members of the Senate Committee on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases yesterday in Abuja, disclosed that once the National Assembly approves the move, $60 million dollars would be earmarked to fight polio. The remaining fund will be used for routine vaccinations.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has released N9.8 billion from the 2016 Budget to tackle the polio epidemic.
Decrying the fresh outbreak of the disease, the minister said about N30 billion will be required to tackle the menace.
He said that in response to the outbreak, the government immediately immunised 800,000 children below five in five local government areas in Borno State.
The five affected coucils which collectively have a population of about one million people are: Jere, Gwoza, Mafa, Maiduguri Municipality and Bama.
Adewole said: โThe resurgence of polio is an unusual development and a major setback considering the investment of the international committee and the whole world was looking forward to celebrate Nigeria next year.
โI wasnโt expecting polio as a challenge. I was expecting teenage pregnancy and other health challenges.โโ
