The United Nations, UN, has disclosed that it mobilized a total of $73 million dollars to support Nigeria’s efforts in combating Covid-19 pandemic.
Loading ...The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, RC, in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, disclosed this during a working visit to the Government of Enugu State on Friday.
Addressing journalists shortly after a meeting with officials of the State Ministry of Health to appraise the Ministry’s efforts in combating the pandemic in the state, Kallon explained that the global body established what it called a ‘basket fund’ to mobilize the resources from multiple channels.
He said, “Our mission here is actually to meet with the state officials; that’s the State Executive Council members to actually try to see how we can reinforce our partnership with the Enugu State Government, to try to continue supporting them to combat the impact of Covid-19. Also trying to see how the UN can bring its global practices in support in the economic transformation effort of the state of Enugu.
“The UN has been quite strategic in pulling together resources and also believing as one, to support the government of Nigeria in the response of Covid-19. We established the one UN response and also put in place the basket fund; we are able to mobilize $73 million which was used to procure medical supplies that were sent to all the states in Nigeria through the NCDC.”
The UN Representative and his team, who were accompanied by officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu office, had earlier paid a courtesy call on the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, where he commended the efforts of the state government so far in responding to Covid-19 pandemic.
“But we are all clear in one important fact; that Covid-19 is with us here for some time to come and the key issue here is vaccination, vaccination. How can we ensure that 70 percent of the population is vaccinated so that we can reach what the scientists are calling herd immunity; this is also critical and closely linked to that is the issue of compliance with the non pharmaceutical measures.”
Kallon who was earlier received by the staff of the UNICEF office in Enugu, commended them for their efforts in immunisation and other humanitarians services they render in Enugu State.
“UNICEF has provided resources to strengthen routine immunisation and OBR both within the health system and communities, supported the Enugu State Government to develop a State Social Protection Policy which considers specific interventions that are targeted at improving access of children and young people to key social services and strengthening state systems for the WASH sector,” he said.
Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi while addressing journalists on the efforts of the state towards tackling COVID-19 debunked insinuations that the state had relaxed her efforts in combating the pandemic hence the rise in the daily figures of new infections.
He said, “There is no time the Ministry of Health or the Emergency Operation Centre or the State Government has relaxed its efforts in fighting Covid-19. What is just showing in the data is what is evident in every other part of the world and in Nigeria also.
“There is a third wave that we are still riding and it is showing in the figures that are evident in the data that is being reported by the NCDC on the country data everywhere. So the response is still as it is but the numbers are showing that the epidemiological curve is showing the third wave and that is how epidemics and pandemics run especially when we are dealing with influenzas and it is taking its course, it’s showing in the data.
“We in the health sector are putting up our fortified fight and as you have heard the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator talk about, what people should understand is that people should access vaccines and really comply with the non pharmaceutical measures”.
