Dangote Foundation, WHO, others, sign MoU to enhance immunisation coverage in Chad
Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global health partners to strengthen routine immunisation in Chad.
A statement from the Aliko Dangote Foundation signed by Anthony Chiejina said that the partners include the Gates Foundation, GAVI the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Government of Chad.
The MoU will help the Government of Chad to strengthen routine immunisation across the country’s 13 provinces over the next three years, building on an initial agreement signed in 2019 which covered 3 provinces.
Managing Director and CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, signed the MoU on behalf of the Foundation.
According to the statement, Mrs. Youssoufou emphasized the importance of collaboration and sustained investment in health systems to protect every child in Chad.
“This partnership is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when governments, development partners, and philanthropic organizations unite for a common goal. By strengthening routine immunisation and working to eradicate polio, we are giving children in Chad the chance to live healthier, more productive lives,” Mrs. Youssoufou said.
According to the statement, the three-year initiative will support the Government of Chad to increase routine immunisation coverage, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.
It will also mobilize resources and technical expertise to interrupt any remaining transmission of the poliovirus, and enhance disease surveillance, health worker training, and vaccine supply chains.
Others are to promote community engagement using Community Reorientation Women Network initiative for demand generation for immunisation services and build sustainable local capacity to maintain high immunisation coverage beyond the duration of the MoU.
The Government of Chad was represented by the Prime Minister, Allamaye Halina, and the Minister of Public Health, Abdelmadjid Abderahim, among others.
Prime Minister Halina underscored Chad’s commitment to achieving universal immunisation coverage and eliminating preventable childhood diseases.
The CEO of GAVI, Mrs. Sania Nishtar who joined the meeting virtually from Geneva congratulated the government of Chad for the immense achievement with the previous MoU and the increases recorded in vaccination coverages particularly with the reduction in zero dose children from 45% in 2017 to 16% in 2024.
The President, Global Development of the Gates Foundation, Chris Elias, said the new MoU is a vehicle to achieve Chad’s ambitions 2025-2030 National Immunization Strategy, aimed at achieving 80% vaccination coverage target in Penta 3 from the current 67% coverage.
He said: “At the Gates Foundation, we reaffirm our commitment to the government of Chad to help it deliver its National Immunization Strategy by providing a financing commitment of $3 million USD over the three years which will resource both the MoU implementation and the vaccination coverage survey.”
