26.2 C
Sierra Leone
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Sierra Leone Gets $2.8M Worth of COVID-19 Vaccine Donation

HomeAYV NewsSierra Leone Gets $2.8M Worth of COVID-19 Vaccine Donation

Sierra Leone Gets $2.8M Worth of COVID-19 Vaccine Donation

Date:

Related stories

President Bio unveils SABCO Fish Canning Factory

AYV News, March 14, 2024 His Excellency President Dr Julius...

ACC engages SLOIC trainees on embracing integrity

AYV News, March 14, 2024 The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is...

Skye Bank announces new Managing Director

AYV News, March 14, 2024 Skye Bank (SL) Ltd has...

Africell launches 5 billion Ramadan Wall of Fortune Promotion

AYV News, March 14, 2024 In a bid to celebrate...

Ambassador David Hunt visit SLPP Bombali office in Makeni

AYV News, March 14, 2024 The United State Ambassador to...

COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership, (CoVDP) has handed over vehicles, motorbikes and computers worth of 2.8 million United States dollars to support Sierra Leone vaccination efforts.

The support is aimed at enabling Sierra Leone to scale up COVID-19 vaccination, as well as strengthen broader routine immunisation services across the country.

The support comes at a time when Sierra Leone and health partners are working to strengthen the health care delivery system and improve child health care services.

CoVDP is a joint venture of the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (Gavi), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The items were officially handed over to Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation in Freetown and they included two pick up vehicles, 250 motorbikes, six computers and accessories and 300 tablets with power banks.

In addition, 15 Peripheral Health Units (PHUs), and four District Vaccine Stores, will be connected to solar powered systems.

“It is heart-warming to receive these items from the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership, (CoVDP). Since COVID-19 Vaccination is a vital lifesaving tool in the fight against COVID-19, this move is a step in the right direction. As Sierra Leone has achieved over 70% of fully vaccinated individuals for COVID-19 vaccination, this donation will boost the country’s determination in making more gains in the integrated vaccination approach,” said Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation.

Since March 2021, when Sierra Leone first introduced COVID-19 vaccination, the partners have helped ensure the delivery of up to 7,881,848 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the country through COVAX and other sources. Since the initial rollout, vaccination of eligible members of the population has significantly improved. This latest support from the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership will ensure that the country’s COVID-19 vaccination programme continues this positive trajectory, continuing to reach high-risk population groups with boosters and remaining alert to the continued global threat of COVID-19.

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

“These additional resources are vital investments that will further strengthening the health system as a whole, supporting integration of COVID-19 vaccines into routine immunisation programs, and ensuring more children are protected against various vaccine-preventable diseases.”

“In collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, we will intensify efforts on the deployment of vaccines, strengthening of the cold chain system, community sensitization and engagement for increased uptake of immunization services”, said Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone. This will help ensure that the COVID-19 vaccination is integrated into routine immunisation services in 2023 and beyond to protect children from vaccine preventable illnesses such as polio and measles.”

“The protracted nature of the COVID-19 pandemic calls for continued collaboration and partnership to support the ongoing efforts and progress that Sierra Leone has made in the fight against the disease”, says Dr Innocent Nuwagira, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. “While we recognize the progress, WHO encourages everyone to remain vigilant, maintain the structures that were instituted to curb the pandemic, get more people vaccinated and continue to administer booster doses in accordance with national guidelines to safeguard the gains that we have collectively made”.

in addition to the items donated today, another consignment including two vehicles, one refrigerated van and 150 solar refrigerators, is expected to arrive in Sierra Leone by March 2023 for handover to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

Latest stories

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once