Nigeria has received the first batch of 300,000 doses of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccines out of a total of MTN-sponsored 1.4 million doses designated for dispatch in Nigeria by the African Union.
A statement issued by MTN on Tuesday titled, ‘First set of MTN donation of 1.4 million doses of vaccines received by Nigeria’, noted that the MTN Group had contributed $25m for the vaccines, a combination of doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility and from the AU COVID-19 vaccination programme.
It said the vaccines would be distributed amongst health workers in Nigeria by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
On behalf of the health care workers, the Director-General of the NPHDA, Faisal Shuaib, commended the efforts of the Nigerian government and the AU, as well as MTN for its collaboration.
According to him, the arrival of the vaccines is a major step, and he advocated for more collaborations, imploring organisations to join the drive for the Nigerian people.
Also speaking, DG of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, expressed appreciation on behalf of the government.
He said, “The donation of COVID-19 vaccines is truly helpful, and we are grateful. We can only succeed against COVID-19 when we fight together.
“These vaccines will go a long way in protecting health workers, who are on the frontline, and need all the protection they can get at this critical moment, hence the prioritisation of their vaccinations.”
Emphasising on the power of partnership and collaboration, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, explained that the ongoing threat of COVID-19 required a vast and accelerated effort by both the private and public sectors.
Toriola said these kind of partnerships demonstrated what could be achieved when working together for the progress of Nigeria Africa.
“I thank the Nigerian government and the AU for the opportunity they granted MTN to collaborate and contribute towards the delivery of these vaccines. We are truly privileged to have been able to play our part in contributing towards government’s efforts to protect and save lives,” he added.
