Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, Mr. Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote yesterday held a video conference for live contributions to the debate on the 2017 midterm review of routine immunisation that aims at polio eradication across the 27 local government areas of the state.
Gates, world’s richest man, joined the discussions from the United States, Africa’s richest man, Dangote, joined from Lagos, while Governor Shettima spoke from Maiduguri in the midst of stakeholders including officials of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and partners from agencies of the United Nations and others involved in supporting Immunisation in Nigeria. The Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in Maiduguri was used at the convergence point where officials from Borno State made presentations on the successes and challenges so far recorded in 2017 on coverage of immunization exercises in the state.
Tagged: ’Midterm Review Meeting on Strengthening Routine Immunisation in Borno State’, the conference agreed on ways to improve immunisation coverage with commitments reaffirmed by all stake-holders.
Gates and Dangote in their separate contributions, applauded Shettima’s personal dedication to the fight against polio in his state. Shettima paid glowing tributes to the two rich men for showing empathy for Borno State. The governor pledged to increase participation of chairmen in the 27 local government areas of the state in order to improve on successes so far recorded.
It would be recalled on January 20, 2016, Governors of Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto and Yobe signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Dangote Foundation on stepping up routine immunization that is to be funded by Gates and Dangote Foundation with counterpart funds to be contributed by benefiting States. The two wealthy men also make donations that strengthen primary healthcare delivery in other parts of the country with particular interest in polio eradication. Focus is usually determined by statistics of prevalence.
