Shettima, Bill Gates, Dangote hold video-conference

Governor Kashim Shettima, Mr Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote on Wednesday held a video conference for live contributions in 2017 midterm review of routine Immunization that aims at polio eradication across the 27 local government areas of Borno State.

World’s richest man, Mr Gates, ‎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 that include officials of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and partners from agencies of the United Nations and others involved in supporting Immunization 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 successes and challenges so far recorded in 2017 on coverage of Immunization exercises in‎ the State.

Tagged, ‎’Midterm Review Meeting on Strengthening Routine Immunization in Borno State’, the conference agreed on ways to improve Immunization coverage with commitments reaffirmed by all stake-holders.

Gates and Dangote in their separate contributions, applauded Governor 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 & 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.