By Mohamed Konneh
Health Alert Sierra Leone has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive immunization campaigns during the GAVI 6.0 Transition Dialogue Sessions organized by the Ministry of Health from 8th to 14th October 2025 at the Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
Health Alert Executive Director, Victor Lansana Koroma emphasized government commitment on co-financing noting that delays in making such payment risk vaccines stock out.
The high-level engagement formed part of a joint monitoring and evaluation visit to Sierra Leone by a GAVI delegation led by Maria Padkina, the Country Manager for GAVI-funded projects in the country.
The dialogue, convened through the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI), brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Civil Society Organizations and development partners, including UNICEF and WHO, to unpack the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization’s (GAVI) new grant extension pathways under the 5.1 framework.
Speaking at a side event, GAVI Senior Country Manager updated the media on GAVI’s impact, drawing on the strengths of its core partners, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Gates Foundation.
‘’These partners plays a critical role in strengthening primary health care (PHC), bringing us closer to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), ensuring that no one is left behind.
We also work with donors, including sovereign governments, private sector foundations and corporate partners; NGOs, advocacy groups, professional and community associations, faith-based organisations and academia; vaccine manufacturers, including those in emerging markets; research and technical health institutes; and implementing country governments,’’ Maria said.
The joint assessment visit is part of effort to assess Sierra Leone’s progress in vaccination. The country according to Maria has made significant progress in vaccines distribution and that there is every need to sustained these gains.
She said Immunization is the best investment a country can make. It reduces long term health cost and also improve the workplace.
Maria however noted that domestic financing on vaccines distribution is key and that GAVI will always remain a strong partner to Sierra Leone.
‘’We will still continue to support government but Country ownership of the programme is important. There is every need to integrate donor support and we believe the government should take ownership by improving domestic financing,’’ she said.
Dr. Kangbai Program Manager at EPI said the government is taking the leadership on EPI adding that so much investment continue on vaccines procurement and distribution.
He said the partnership with GAVI is one of the best Sierra Leone has gone into, while commending civil society especially Health Alert in thus direction.
‘’The role of communities and other partners is also key and that immunization of our kids over the years has help reduce maternal deaths in the country.
Dr. Kangbai noted that as it is becoming difficult for donor financing the government is now working and investing in vaccines.
He said government continue to honour it Co-financing obligation except for few delays.
This he said is now changing with new aspect of having a separate budget line in the health budget.
He called on civil society including the media to join the campaign on immunization as this is key to the country’s development.
