Africa CDC in collaboration with Mastercard Foundation donates Cold Chain Equipment to Mali

ALI—The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation’s Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) program, has donated essential Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Mali.

This donation is part of a larger continental initiative to strengthen immunisation programs and ensure the safe storage and distribution of vaccines.

The Cold Chain Equipment handed over to Mali comprises 11 ordinary refrigerators, 32 solar-powered refrigerators, 70 vaccine carriers, 40 cold boxes, 23 remote temperature monitoring systems, and 2,000 fridge-tag 2E devices designed to maintain vaccine efficacy.

These tools will significantly enhance Mali’s capacity to store and distribute vaccines securely, playing a crucial role in the continued success of both COVID-19 vaccination efforts and routine immunization programs.

 This donation, valued at overUS $609,000, is a continuation of the support provided by Africa CDC and its partners to strengthen health systems across the continent.

This recent donation follows similar handovers of Cold Chain Equipment in several other African nations, including Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Somalia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to ensure that all Member States have the necessary infrastructure to manage both current and future public health challenges.

During the handover ceremony, Dr. Herlinda Temba, Acting Director of the Western Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, representing Africa CDC’s Director-General, H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, highlighted the importance of this donation.

 She emphasised that the handover symbolizes a crucial milestone in the collective mission to safeguard public health in Mali.

Dr. Temba stated that the Cold Chain Equipment would play a pivotal role in maintaining the potency of vaccines, thereby reinforcing Mali’s health system and its capacity to respond to future public health emergencies.

She further noted that this achievement highlights the power of collaboration, reiterating Africa CDC’s unwavering commitment to supporting Mali and other Member States in their pursuit of health security.

Echoing these sentiments, Ms. Youma Sall, a Technical Advisor who represented the Mali Ministry of Health, expressed deep gratitude to Africa CDC, the Mastercard Foundation, and all other partners involved in this initiative.

She highlighted that the Cold Chain Equipment represents more than just a donation of tools; it is a significant investment in the health and well-being of the Malian people.

 Ms. Sall added that this contribution would enable the country to reach more communities with life-saving vaccines, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against preventable diseases.

In response to the growing need for expanded vaccination and vaccine storage capacity across Africa, the Africa CDC, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, launched the SLL program.

This initiative was specifically designed to support the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as routine immunization programs, by ensuring that vaccines are stored under optimal conditions from their arrival to their administration.

 Between December 2021 and February 2022, Africa CDC, with support from UNICEF, conducted a comprehensive assessment of cold chain capacity across the continent.

The assessment revealed significant gaps, with many countries needing more equipment and infrastructure to maintain the required cold chain conditions.

To address these challenges, the SLL program has procured, distributed, and installed Cold Chain Equipment valued at approximately US$128.7 million across 35 African countries.

This initiative is a cornerstone of Africa CDC’s commitment to strengthening health systems and ensuring that vaccines remain effective throughout their journey, thereby safeguarding millions of lives across the continent.

Looking forward, Africa CDC has planned additional handovers in countries such as Burundi, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Rwanda, Saharawi, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.

These efforts will further strengthen Africa’s public health infrastructure, ensuring that all Member States are equipped to handle both current and future public health emergencies. 

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