COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Partnership boosts Sierra Leone COVID-19 Vaccination with USD2.8 million value donation.

Freetown, 25 January 2023 – The COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Partnership, (CoVDP), have in the present day handed over autos together with motorbikes and computer systems value over USD$2.8 million to assist Authorities of Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 vaccine deployment. CoVDP is a three way partnership of the World Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (Gavi), the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Well being Group (WHO).

The gadgets have been formally handed over to Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Well being and Sanitation in Freetown they usually included two Toyota Land Cruisers, 250 motorbikes, six computer systems and equipment and 300 tablets with energy banks. As well as, 15 Peripheral Well being Models (PHUs), and 4 District Vaccine Shops, shall be related to photo voltaic powered techniques.

These provides are a part of the technical and operational assist which the nation is receiving to assist scale up COVID-19 vaccination and strengthen routine immunization providers throughout Sierra Leone.

“It’s heart-warming to obtain these things from the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Partnership, (CoVDP). Since COVID-19 Vaccination is a crucial lifesaving software within the combat in opposition to COVID-19, this transfer is a step in the precise route. As Sierra Leone has achieved over 70% of totally vaccinated people for COVID-19 vaccination, this donation will enhance the nation’s dedication in making extra beneficial properties within the built-in vaccination strategy,” mentioned Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Well being and Sanitation.

Since March 2021, when Sierra Leone first launched COVID-19 vaccination, the companions have helped make sure the supply of as much as 7,881,848 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the nation via COVAX and different sources. For the reason that preliminary rollout, vaccination of eligible members of the inhabitants has considerably improved. This newest assist from the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Partnership will be sure that the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination programme continues this optimistic trajectory, persevering with to achieve high-risk inhabitants teams with boosters and remaining alert to the continued world risk of COVID-19.

“Gavi is proud to work with our companions in continued assist of Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout,” mentioned Dr. Richard Mihigo, Director of COVID-19 Vaccine Supply, Coordination and Integration at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“These further sources are important investments that may additional strengthening the well being system as an entire, supporting integration of COVID-19 vaccines into routine immunization applications, and making certain extra youngsters are protected in opposition to varied vaccine-preventable illnesses.”

These autos and gear have come at a time when companions in Sierra Leone proceed to assist the Authorities to strengthen the well being care supply system and enhance youngster well being care providers together with immunization, which confronted a short lived snag because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In collaboration with the Authorities of Sierra Leone, we are going to intensify efforts on the deployment of vaccines, strengthening of the chilly chain system, group sensitization and engagement for elevated uptake of immunization providers”, mentioned Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, UNICEF Consultant in Sierra Leone. “This may assist be sure that the COVID-19 vaccination is built-in into routine immunization providers in 2023 and past to guard youngsters from vaccine preventable diseases similar to polio and measles.”

“The protracted nature of the COVID-19 pandemic requires continued collaboration and partnership to assist the continuing efforts and progress that Sierra Leone has made within the combat in opposition to the illness”, says Dr Harmless Nuwagira, WHO Consultant in Sierra Leone. “Whereas we acknowledge the progress, WHO encourages everybody to stay vigilant, keep the constructions that have been instituted to curb the pandemic, get extra folks vaccinated and proceed to manage booster doses in accordance with nationwide pointers to safeguard the beneficial properties that we’ve got collectively made”.

along with the gadgets donated in the present day, one other consignment together with two autos, one refrigerated van and 150 photo voltaic fridges, is anticipated to reach in Sierra Leone by March 2023 for handover to the Ministry of Well being and Sanitation.

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For extra data, please contact:

Harold Thomas | Threat Communications Lead/Well being Training Supervisor

Ministry of Well being and Sanitation

Electronic mail: haroldthomas2007 [at] yahoo.com (well being.schooling.gov.sl); Cellphone: +232 76 60 24 60

Collins Mwai | Media & Communications Advisor

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Electronic mail: cmwai [at] gavi.org () Cellphone +250787836638

Tapuwa Loreen Mutseyekwa | Communication Specialist

United Nations Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF)

Electronic mail: tmutseyekwa [at] unicef.org (); Cellphone: +23276100532