France gives US$2.5m towards Covax facility

Zim Now Writer

The French government has contributed US$2.5 million towards the Covax facility programme that will strengthen and integrate Covid-19 vaccination into the routine vaccination programme ahead of the World Health Day on April 8, 2023.

This comes after the Ambassador of France, His Excellency Laurent Chevallier, and the French Regional Counsellor for Global Health in Southern Africa, Dr Thomas Mourez, conducted a field visit in Harare, facilitated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Unicef.

The government of France is the third donor to the Covax facility, which aims - through Gavi, the Global Vaccine Alliance - to improve equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines and ultimately scale up to Covid-19 vaccination.

Prior, the French Regional Counsellor for Global Health held several meetings with Zimbabwe government officials, health stakeholders, including Unicef, and donors to understand the health situation in the country, acknowledge the progress made in the sector and discuss the remaining challenges impacting the health of children, adolescents and women.

Immunisation, together with Vitamin A supplementation, is one of the most cost-effective childhood health interventions. During the Covid-19 pandemic, and like in other countries, routine immunisation and supplementation coverage rates dropped.

However, Zimbabwe’s indicators have shown some progress. According to the 2022 Population Census, maternal mortality dropped from 462 per 100 000 live births in 2019 to 363 per 100 000 live births in 2022.

Under-five mortality declined from 65 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2019 to 40 in 2022. Since 2010, the number of children suffering from chronic malnutrition was reduced from nearly one child out of three to less than one child out of four.

But neo-natal mortality rate remains a challenge. It stands at 32 deaths per 1 000 live births, above the 12 per 1 000 live births set forward for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals target.

At the same time, steady progress has been made in Covid-19 vaccination rates in Zimbabwe, which serves as a great opportunity to strengthen routine vaccination and Vitamin A supplementation.