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The Ministry of Finance has assured health stakeholders of its commitment to immediately pay Sierra Leone’s GAVI Co-Financing obligation to support the continued procurement of vaccines and essential cold chain equipment for the country’s immunization programme.
Financial Secretary Mr. Mathew Dingie gave the assurance on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during a high-level follow-up meeting held at the Ministry of Finance involving the Parliamentary Committee on Health, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) under the Ministry of Health, and Health Alert Sierra Leone.
Mr. Dingie confirmed that the payment, which was approved by the Minister of Finance in April 2026, will now be processed to ensure Sierra Leone meets its commitment under the GAVI Co-Financing Agreement.
The assurance comes after concerns over delays in translating the April approval into actual disbursement. Health Alert Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Parliamentary Committee on Health and EPI, with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), convened the engagement to push for the fulfilment of the government’s obligation before the official deadline this month.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders to discuss the importance of meeting the co-financing requirement, which plays a critical role in maintaining vaccine availability and strengthening immunization services across the country.
Stakeholders emphasised that timely payment of the GAVI commitment is essential to protecting Sierra Leone’s progress in immunization coverage and preventing possible disruptions to vaccine supplies.
The engagement also highlighted the continued collaboration between government institutions, Parliament, civil society organisations, and health partners in safeguarding public health and ensuring communities across Sierra Leone have access to essential vaccines.
