Abuja — As part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the alarming spread of the H1N1 influenza, popularly known as swine flu, the World Health Organisation has disclosed that it will donate H1N1 vaccines to about 10 per cent population of every country in Africa, out of which about 14 million Nigerians will benefit.

Disclosing this yesterday in Abuja at a WHO Africa region meeting on H1N1 and vaccines deployment workshop, a staff of WHO from the regional office based in Congo Brazzaville, Dr. Richard Mihigo, said the donation was a small contribution to help countries access the life-saving vaccines, as well as promote other measures that will mitigate the pandemic across the world."We are also raising awareness against the disease, as well as providing antiviral drugs which we are distributing to all countries and at the same time providing personal protective equipment to ensure safety in case of any outbreak", he stated.

According to him, the WHO is making the commitment to donate the vaccines to all countries in the region since one of the efficient ways to deal with the pandemic is to deliver vaccines to protect the vulnerable population.

Mihigo disclosed that the weeklong workshop will prepare countries for the introduction of the H1N1 vaccines, as well as help countries in the region come out with plans to roll out the vaccine when it is ready, saying countries must be able to come out with strategies in order to fill the gap of the remaining high risk group which might be affected by the pandemic.

"WHO is making this donation to make sure the high vulnerable groups are protected with the life saving vaccines, as well as maintain health infrastructures", he added.

He said they will help countries develop their vaccines plan for H1N1 influenza since the availability of the vaccines at the international market is limited.

"We are talking about vaccines but will promote other strategies that can mitigate the pandemic like hand washing to avoid spreading the disease and for those who are sick, we have protective equipment like wearing surgical mask so as to limit transmission of the disease".

Earlier, the WHO representative in Nigeria, Dr Peter Eriki, had disclosed that the pandemic is a global concern that requires international partnership and cohesion to overcome since the disease has spread to 206 countries and territories, saying it may spread to others.

Eriki, who was represented by Dr Klint Nyanueryekunge, disclosed that more than 6,250 deaths have been recorded in America region since the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza in April this year as 14,868 laboratory human cases have been confirmed in Africa, with 103 deaths.

Calling for careful planning and prioritisation of the vaccines, the representative noted that countries would have to address the issues of logistics, post- marketing surveillance and public information to strengthen health systems, as well as promote partnership.

Declaring the workshop open, the Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Public Health in the ministry, Mr. Ben Nwobi, said issues of public health have been posing serious challenges to Africans, saying the swine flu pandemic is a major challenge to the society.

He said though a case has been recorded in Nigeria, "we don't hope for any reoccurrences", saying that Nigeria will have to take a position in addressing this issue from recurring.