By: Mohamed J. Bangura
Malaria accounts for approximately 30 per cent of child deaths in Sierra Leone, with Western Area Urban recording a significant burden of cases, according to data from the Ministry of Health’s #300DaysOfActivism campaign.
In a major intervention to address the challenge, Sierra Leone has secured US$60.97 million in funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to strengthen and expand the country’s national immunization programme between 2026 and 2030.
The funding will support the expansion of malaria vaccination services to all 16 districts, including Western Area Urban, where approximately 40,000 additional children are expected to benefit annually.
Currently, the malaria vaccine is being administered in 15 districts across the country. The inclusion of Western Area Urban under the new funding arrangement will extend coverage nationwide, enabling more children to access protection against the deadly disease.
The funding also builds on Sierra Leone’s progress in routine immunization over the past five years, during which the country maintained vaccination coverage above 90 per cent, helping protect thousands of children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has provided leadership in advancing the country’s immunization agenda and improving access to essential vaccines.
Another key component of the funding arrangement is the introduction of the Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine. Under the initiative, newborns delivered in government hospitals will receive the vaccine within 24 hours of birth to help prevent Hepatitis B infection, particularly mother-to-child transmission.
The US$60.97 million support will contribute to broader efforts to improve child survival, strengthen routine immunization and reduce deaths caused by vaccine-preventable diseases.
Government has also committed to meeting its co-financing obligations on time and in full to ensure the sustainability of the national immunization programme.
The expansion of malaria vaccination to all 16 districts, alongside the introduction of the Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine, marks an important development in the country’s efforts to protect children against preventable diseases.
With support from Gavi, Sierra Leone aims to widen access to life-saving vaccines, strengthen its healthcare delivery system and reduce preventable deaths among children.