DRC—The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by WHO, has helped African health systems become more resilient and better prepared for future pandemics as the program comes to an end.
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) supported WHO’s efforts to enhance COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and expand coverage in 16 African countries.
Over 18 months, WHO received a total of US$ 17.5 million from ECHO to support the operational and technical aspects of the vaccine rollout.
The countries participating in this initiative were Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Sudan.
The grant also helped to reinforce the capacity of health workers to plan, coordinate and deploy the vaccines as well as monitor and document the results of the rollout and adequately investigate and report any, adverse events following immunization.
Furthermore, WHO and partner organizations deployed more than 60 experts on the ground to form part of country expert teams.
These teams worked to strengthen coordination, and logistical and financial planning, including microplanning, surveillance of adverse events following immunization as well as vaccine uptake and stock data management.
WHO partners also worked with people in the communities to strengthen trust and confidence in vaccination.
COVID-19 vaccination coverage was on the rise in Africa’s most fragile humanitarian settings as the two-year project ends.
At the start of 2022, the COVID-19 vaccination rate was less than 5% on average in the participating countries.
That rate is now closing in on 30%, the continent’s average, and 34 million people have received the two-dose vaccinations, more than 1 in 4 people across the population of all countries.
The vaccination campaigns prioritized vulnerable and high-risk populations such as health workers, older people, and those with co-morbidities, particularly those living in fragile, conflict-affected, and humanitarian contexts, including in refugee camps.
Crucially important for achieving this success were national health workers trained by WHO that have been administering vaccines in urban hubs, remote villages, refugee and displacement camps, workplaces, public spaces, and elsewhere.
The number of WHO-trained health workers rose from about 130 000 in 2022, to almost 2 million by May 2023.
Trained health workers are a precious and resilient asset for national governments and communities, as they are prepared and ready to provide an effective response to any future epidemics.
WHO reported that remarkable success was noted in Chad, Guinea, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan, and Nigeria, which reached close to 40% vaccination rates.
Moreover, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, and Somalia surpassed the 40% rat, and Liberia, showed the most progress, with eight out of ten people now vaccinated.
Vaccination efforts reached close to 12 million refugees, internally displaced persons, and migrants across eleven countries.
Additionally, WHO notes that four in 10 of them received a full primary series (first and second dose), and more than half of them received at least one dose.
WHO also reported that close to 13 million people amongst these vulnerable groups were reached with awareness campaigns, delivered in their settings and in their own languages by local health workers.
Nearly, 26 million older people (38%) of the total in all countries, completed their primary vaccine series, providing crucial protection against COVID-19.
With significant knowledge transfer, training, and fieldwork, the national vaccination and immunization programs have been strengthened in the long run.
WHO reports that through the program, countries are now more resilient and hopefully ready to tackle other vaccine-preventable diseases and health emergencies.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.
