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The Kano State Government, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Dangote Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

Tagged, “Health Basket Fund,” the MoU is for a five-year period and is aimed at boosting child healthcare and tackling maternal mortality in Kano State.

Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, while speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, said the state government would contribute N350 million as counterpart funding. Kabiru Gesto, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said both foundations would contribute a total of 80% to the Health Basket Funds, while the state government would contribute 20%.

Speaking via video conferencing, Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, applauded the efforts of the Kano State government on the success of routine immunisation exercises across the state. He, however, urged the administration to improve its efforts.

Gates expressed his foundation’s determination to wipe out polio and other related diseases in Nigeria and internationally through partnerships with diverse states and countries.

Aliko Dangote thanked the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its continued commitment to the global fight against polio. The founder of the Dangote Foundation also appreciated the efforts of the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the eradication of polio in Kano State.

In 2012, the Kano State government signed a similar MoU with both foundations to facilitate the eradication of polio in the state. The MoU was in effect until 2015 and was further extended to 2016.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in August 2016, reported two new cases of polio virus in Nigeria after two years without a wild polio case in the country. Nevertheless, the country is edging closer to eradicating the virus.