Katsina State has won $1million Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award for polio eradication.
The award was in recognition of its relentless campaign against polio, which led to the successful eradication of the disease from the state.
A statement on Wednesday said the award was announced in Abuja during the signing of an MoU for routine immunisation between Katsina and Zamfara states on the one hand and Dangote and Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation on the other.
The statement by Abdu Labaran, Media Assistant to Governor Bello Masari, said Zamfara State also won the award.
According to it, Governor Masari and his Zamfara State counterpart, AbdulAziz Yari signed on behalf of their respective states while Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates signed on behalf of their respective foundations.
“Celebrating the two states, Messrs Dangote and Gates said that they were worthy winners of the money as they showed total commitment in the fight against polio in their respective states.
“The benefactors, who took turns to speak, urged the governors to sustain the tempo and keep their states free of polio and other diseases assuring that the foundations will be monitoring the implementation of the letter and spirit of the MoU by the two states.
“The prize money is to be used for the purchase of cold chain equipment for the storage of vaccines”.
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