World Bank excluded Nigeria from its list of 51 developing countries due for $4 billion Covid-19 vaccines.
In its latest report on vaccine funding and deployment, the multilateral institution announced over $4 billion for the purchase and deployment of Covid-19 vaccines for 51 developing countries, half of which are in Africa.
But Nigeria’s was not named among the list of beneficiaries posted on its website that include Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Benin, Cabo Verde, the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and The Gambia.Also in the list are Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, Yemen, Zambia, among others.
World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Axel van Trotsenburg, said the global lender is helping developing countries in every region of the world with vaccine purchase and rollout.
“Significant challenges still remain regarding vaccine deployment and hesitancy. We are taking action on all fronts to tackle these challenges, working in solidarity with international and regional partners to expedite doses to as many people as possible and to enhance disease surveillance, preparedness, and response,” Trotsenburg said.
The World Bank said its vaccine finance package is designed to be flexible.
