Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) Founder-President, Mrs Toyin Saraki has welcomed the launch of the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE strategy).
The strategy has received the backing of the World Health Oorganisation (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi and other 50 partners.
Mrs Saraki, who is also a Women Advocates for Vaccine Access Champion and Special Adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), described the introduction of the strategy as timely.
“Vaccination in Nigeria should be treated as a national security issue. I welcome the leadership shown by the WHO and their partners and will support their efforts to eliminate Yellow Fever”, she said in a statement sent to Frontline News Online by her media office.
Almost half those who will be vaccinated are children, in an effort to ensure that by 2026 Africa is free of yellow fever epidemics – the risk of which has increased due to population movements, urbanization and rising mosquito populations in urban areas.
This announcement comes as Mrs Saraki meets with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the WHO Africa Director Dr. Moeti in Abuja this week.
“The WHO Africa Region is elated to be in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, and we are particularly interested in strengthening midwifery education in Nigeria, as well as working with the WBFA to galvanize efforts across Nigeria to push this amazing country towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage”, Dr. Moeti said.
Be the first to comment