AFRICA – Amref Health Africa has awarded US$1.9 million in sub-grants to nine African non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support district-level health systems strengthening initiatives across Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The largest health development non-governmental international organisation based in Africa underscored that the projects emerged from intra-country discussions and cross-country discussions led by the Vaccination Action Network (VAN).
“The Vaccination Action Network is a peer-to-peer learning initiative for health leaders in sub-Saharan Africa to trade insights and refine country-wide immunisation campaigns to increase uptake for COVID-19 vaccines and beyond,” said Amref.
The network is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, with Amref providing technical assistance and disbursing sub-grants for partner action projects while Dalberg and Sabin act as members of the secretariat.
“With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the NGOs will work with Amref to implement local strategies for improving COVID-19 vaccine coverage among high-risk populations through the end of 2023,” the nonprofit announced.
According to the press release, the nine VAN sub-grantees and projects include support to Infectious Disease Institute to train community vaccination advocates in Wakiso District, Uganda and support to Centre for Development Communication to design and distribute COVID-19 prevention guides.
The Makerere University School of Public Health will also receive part of the recent funding support to strengthen immunisation data systems in Wakiso District, Uganda.
“As VAN partners implement immunisation strategies, they will apply lessons from the pandemic to strengthen essential health services and bolster pandemic preparedness across the East and Southern African regions,” Amref pointed out.
Part of Rockefeller’s grant financing will be used to support the Community Concern of Orphans & Development Association in initiating door-to-door immunisation outreach in Njombe District and Makambo Town, Tanzania.
“Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation to launch mass media campaigns with embedded vaccination teams to complement service delivery for Covid-19 vaccinations in Kaskazin and Magharibi Districts, Tanzania,” the statement said.
Amref outlined that the nine VAN sub-grantees and projects will also support United Purpose to engage with village mobilisers, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and community leaders to address demand-side barriers for improved vaccine uptake in Dedza District, Malawi.
In addition, Population Services Kenya (PS Kenya) and PanAfricare will receive part of the financial support to focus on priority groups especially youth, the elderly and community health workers in Makueni, Nakuru and Turkana Counties.
“The nine VAN sub-grantees and projects include support to Christian Health Association of Malawi to engage religious leaders as advocates for COVID-19 immunizations in Phalombe and Chiradzulu Districts in Malawi,” the organization further outlined.
Through the peer learning initiative, Amref partners in East and Southern Africa are also working across borders to share shovel-ready strategies for better vaccine messaging and delivery alongside colleagues at The Rockefeller Foundation.
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