The French Government contributed 2.5 million USD towards the COVAX facility programme in Zimbabwe.
The Ambassador of France, HE Laurent Chevallier and the French Regional Counselor for Global Health in Southern Africa, Dr Thomas Mourez conducted a field visit in Harare under the facilitation of the Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF following the donation.
The funding will strengthen routine immunisation and the integration of COVID-19 vaccination into the routine vaccination programme.
With the World Health Day Commemorations penciled for April 8 2023, the contribution by French government towards COVAX is a major boost to the Health Welfare of the country which is currently being ravaged by cholera outbreak.
France is the third donor to the COVAX facility which aims through Gavi, the Global Vaccine Allience to improve equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and ultimately scale-up of COVID 19 vaccination. COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
The ACT Accelerator is a groundbreaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatment and vaccines.
Immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation are the most cost-effective childhood interventions. The rates of immunisation and supplementation coverage rates dropped word wide due to the COVID-19 induced pandemic.
The current infant mortality rate in 2023 is 34.096 deaths per 1000 live births which is a 2.65% decline from 2022 which is in the positive direction and the money can further decrease the mortality rate.
Zimbabwe has recorded an increased rates in COVID 19 vaccination and it will be a great opportunity to strengthen routine vaccination and Vitamin A supplement.
