KENYA – Africa Public Health Foundation (APHF) has announced reception of US$2.75 million from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to help expand the effective and timely roll-out of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 in Africa through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The grant from the Hilton Foundation to APHF is the first commitment from a group of foundations committed to combining funding and expediting the equitable delivery of vaccinations in Africa.
Through this support, vaccination centres will be established, personnel and volunteers trained, and essential commodities purchased in up to five countries.
With mass vaccination programs being rolled out internationally, Africa must not be left behind. To date, the number of Covid-19 cases in the African continent was over 7.5 million.
The continent’s largest vaccination drive is in progress and Africa CDC is leading in the frontlines to ensure that the African people are vaccinated.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), for Africa, the aim is to vaccinate at least 20% of the population by providing up to 600 million doses by the end of 2021.
“It is our mission to forge partnerships and mobilise resources for Africa CDC. In facing the COVID-19 pandemic, this kind of collaboration is needed more than ever, and we are delighted that our partners are joining forces to give quickly and collectively,” Dr. Francisco Songane, Interim CEO of the Africa Public Health Foundation said.
Further doses are required to reach the minimum 60% population target to develop ‘herd immunity’ which would alter the course of the pandemic.
In addition, on-the-ground support is crucial to ensure vaccines arriving in ports can reach target populations across the continent to save lives, protect the health of vulnerable people and open up economies.
The Hilton Foundation grant that will be managed by APHF will help to counter these challenges and to provide a mechanism to enable the safe, effective, and equitable roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in the Member States which can most benefit from this support, and for this to be enacted at speed, to meet the pressing needs of communities.
“We are proud to support the Africa Public Health Foundation’s work to make COVID-19 vaccines more accessible throughout Africa,” shares Peter Laugharn, President and CEO at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
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