September 14, 2021
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
Consistent with their solidarity support in aiding third world countries to have an equitable access of the Covid-19 vaccine, the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone David Reimer, has yesterday the 13th of September, handed-over 113,490 doses of covid-19 Pfizer Vaccines to the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Amara Jambai.
During the handing over ceremony held in the Conference hall of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the U.S Ambassador David Reimer informed journalists and other state Actors that the arrival of the Pfizer vaccines into the country is another testament to the United States’ commitment in standing together with the people and the government of Sierra Leone to address the shared global challenges.
He added that the U.S Government is supporting Sierra Leone to safely and effectively manage the Covid-19 vaccines by providing refrigerators for vaccine storage and informing people about the advantages of getting vaccinated and dispel rumors.
Ambassador David Reimer also reiterated that the arrival of Pfizer Vaccine is part of President Joe Biden’s initiative to expand vaccines availability worldwide.
Ambassador Reimer said the 113,490 doses of the Pfizer vaccines in Sierra Leone will help augment the 438,800 covid-19 vaccines that have been already donated by COVAX and other donors. He assured that safe and effective vaccines will protect lives in Sierra Leone and help prevent dangerous new variants from spreading.
He continued that the United States Government has also worked closely with Sierra Leone since the pandemic began in order to keep health workers safe with protective equipment such as masks and gloves, supporting food security and livelihood initiatives, boosting emergency Response activities, promoting preventive hygiene practices and improving surveillance and laboratory equipment, and staff systems.
“We are fighting more than just a virus. Covud-19 threatens decades of progress in education, democracy, poverty, nutrition and against diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS. On June 10th, President Biden announced that America will continue to lead global Covid-19 vaccination efforts by donating half a million Pfizer vaccines to the world’s most vulnerable people and economies. This donation of vaccines is the largest ever made by a single country, and further solidifies America’s Committee to saving lives and leading the world out of this pandemic. Together we can respond decisively to Covid-19 and overcome this pandemic”, Ambassador Reimer concluded.
Delivering her statement, the UNICEF Deputy Representative Ms. Live Elin Indreiten highlighted that the unprecedented covid-19 crisis can only be tackled when the world acts together as one. She therefore appreciated the U.S Government for donating the 113,490 doses of the Pfizer vaccines, delivered through the dose-sharing mechanism under the COVAX facility.
She reminded that the donation of the Pfizer vaccine is the second batch of U.S Government’s donation to Sierra Leone through COVAX. This follows the 151,200 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccines which arrived in the country on the 7th September 2021.
Ms. Indreiten added that the U.S Government donation is to ensure equitable access to vaccines in lower and middle-income countries. She also appreciated the solidarity exhibited by the U.S Government, COVAX and other partners in order to end the covid-19 pandemic. She noted that the combined efforts of all the partners including the Government of the People’s Republic of China have so far ensured the delivery of up to 951,490 doses of Covid-19 Vaccines to Sierra Leone including the latest addition of the Pfizer vaccines.
Receiving the 113,490 doses of the Pfizer vaccines, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Amara Jambai intimated that as long as the U.S Government has made their crucial support towards the fight against the Covid-19, the eradication of the pandemic is in sight.
He added that the U.S government helped to control and eradicate the Polio diseases which used to be a debilitating disorder to the Africa population and the world at large.
Dr. Jambai further indicated that the mode of fighting the previous diseases is what the Ministry is now replicating in the fight against the Covid-19. He disclosed that the act of giving is an endowment of the U.S Government and the People of the America. He said the U.S is leading the COVAX equitable access to vaccines and cultivating strategic partnership geared towards eradicating the pandemic.
He therefore, thanked the U.S Government for the timely donation of the Pfizer vaccines. He concluded by encouraging the U.S Ambassador to push the case further to the U.S Center for Diseases Control (CDC) in leveraging more support to Sierra Leone in terms of strengthening diseases prevention and control mechanism.