In recent days, Mali kicked off a campaign to vaccinate people displaced by ethnic violence, and the Seychelles unpacked a consignment of electronic tablets to help with data management for the country’s COVID-19 response.
Syria received a €1 million contribution to help reach more people with vaccines, while the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed a 60-ton shipment of nucleic acid extraction test kits—cutting-edge supplies that will increase the health system’s capacity to diagnose infections.
In Latin America, Bolivia celebrated the arrival of 2 million doses of Moderna vaccine, Nicaragua greeted more than half a million doses of AstraZeneca and Venezuela took possession of new refrigerated trucks and shipping containers that will keep vaccines cold on their journey to medical centres. Read more about these efforts:
Mali vaccinates people fleeing violence
The campaign to vaccinate internally displaced people in Mali began in early December at the Sénou camp near Bamako, where nearly half the adults got their jabs. In the coming months, the campaign will expand to camps in other regions.
“We could see the enthusiasm of the vaccinated people. Many of them proudly displayed their vaccination records,” said Chief Medical Office Mama Sy Konaké of Bamako Commune 6.
Lacking adequate hygiene and sanitation services, displaced people are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases. As of mid-December, only about 10% of Mali’s population had been vaccinated for COVID-19.
WHO delivers new tablets to help the Seychelles manage COVID-19 data
The 76 electronic tablets are expected to improve the country’s COVID-19 surveillance, contact tracing, data gathering and reporting.
“One thing that COVID-19 has taught us is the importance of information communication and technology in health,” Seychelles Health Minister Peggy Vidot said.
European Union bolsters WHO’s COVID-19 response in Syria
The €1 million contribution will be used to reduce COVID-19 transmission by increasing testing capacity and vaccination across the country. Funds will support 840 vaccinators at fixed facilities and 770 in mobile teams, along with other staff and transportation needs..
“We need to stand by the Syrians who are threatened by this pandemic, in addition to suffering the continued consequences of conflict and economic hardship,” European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said. “The EU is committed to shielding the most vulnerable people and caregivers from COVID-19’s full force.”
Contribution helps expand diagnostic capacity in the Islamic Republic of Iran
A 60-ton shipment of diagnostics equipment funded by Germany is being distributed to public medical laboratories across the country. Included in the shipment were 2 million nucleic acid extraction kits, which are used in COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
The donated kits are essential for expanding the country’s diagnostics capacity.
Bolivia receives Moderna shipment
The country welcomed about 2 million vaccine doses on 28 December, thanks to donations from Germany and Spain through COVAX. As of early January, more than 40% of people in Bolivia were fully vaccinated.
Vaccine shipment arrives in Nicaragua
More than half a million AstraZeneca doses arrived in Nicaragua on Christmas Eve, courtesy of the government of Japan. As of 29 December, more than 70% of Nicaragua’s population had received more than one dose, and more than 40% had been fully vaccinated.
Venezuela can deliver more vaccine with its new refrigerated trucks and containers
The contribution of four refrigerated trucks and refrigeration systems for two shipping containers significantly strengthens the country’s cold chain.
“We will be able to simultaneously transport more than 3.5 million doses of vaccines to different entities nationwide,” Venezuela’s Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said in welcoming the donation.
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Partners and donors recognized in this feature are the European Union, Germany, Japan and Spain.
WHO thanks all governments, organizations and individuals contributing to the COVID-19 response around the world since the beginning of the outbreak, and in particular those who have provided fully flexible contributions, to ensure a comprehensive fight against the disease.
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Member States and other governments since 2021:
Australia, Belgium, Canada, Comoros, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lesotho, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America.
Other partners since 2021:
African Development Bank Group, African Reinsurance Corporation, Alma Jean Henry Charitable Trust, Ancash, Asian Development Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), China Medical Board, COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, European Commission (ECHO, NEAR, DG-INTPA), Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Fundacion MAPFRE, FYT, Gavi-The Vaccine Alliance, International Development Association (IDA), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), Kuwait Fund for Development, National Philanthropic Trust (NPT), Rockefeller Foundation, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Sony, Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Task Force for Global Health (TFGH), The UN Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO), International Drug Purchasing Facility (UNITAID), United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Veolia Environment Foundation, Vital Strategies, WHO Foundation, World Bank.
Read more about donors and partners contributing to the COVID-19 response.
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