The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) with support from SABIN Vaccine Institute, WHO and UNICEF, held a one day symposium to raise awareness of Members of Parliament (MPs) on the importance of vaccination and solicit their support for sustainable immunization financing (SIF).
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Chukuma Johnson delivering the key note address said, “parliamentarians must not underestimate their critical role in achieving the goal of health care financing.”
He also encouraged public-private partnership in local resource mobilization to address the challenges in health service delivery including immunization. “We must strengthen our efforts to become more self reliant” he stated. Participant at the forum included MPs, UN agencies, 2 Liberian government officials, MoHS officials and other public and private stakeholders.

In his statement, Dep. Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Hon M. Tarawalie, stated the importance of the overall funding of the health sector and the need to focus on ensuring adequate funding for priority programmes within the sector. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr K Daoh informed the participants about the successes and challenges of the health sector including immunization services. He said “the recent introduction of Pentavalent & Pneumococcal vaccines into the routine immunization schedule and the planned introduction of Rota Virus vaccines will prevent thousands of child deaths. He said due to the increasing cost of the vaccines and operations, the cost per fully immunized child is increasing and called upon the government to “re-examine immunization financing mechanisms, especially in the light of the dwindling external funding support”.

Other speakers included the UNICEF Representative, Mr Mahimbo Mdoe, Dr Pamela Mitula/WHO EPI Team Leader, on behalf of the WHO Representative Dr Alemu, and representative of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development who highlighted the benefits of immunization and the need for SIF. The WHO statement noted that financing is a critical component of a sustainable immunization program which is an opportunity to strengthen the health systems. Following the extensive discussion and exchange of views, the meeting recommended early involvement of MPs in the budgeting process to influence budget lines, transparency and accountability in resource utilization and effective partnership for local resource mobilization.

It is to be recalled that the 2001 Abuja Declaration commits governments to allocate at least 15% of their budget to the health sector. The same year, the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health recommended $34 per capita expenditure per year to provide a minimum package of health services including immunization. However, many countries including Sierra Leone are yet to achieve these targets.

Ministry of Health Discusses Sustainable Immunization Financing with Members of Parliament [pdf: 918.23 kB]

 01 Dep. Speaker Of Parliament Making A Statement 02 Group Photo Of Participants 03 Hon. M. Tarawalie Making A Statement 04 Dr Mitula Delivering A Statement 05 Dr C. Kamara Making Presentation On SIF 06 Cross Section Of Meeting Participants 07 Cross Section Of Meeting Participants

Ministry of Health Discusses Sustainable Immunization Financing with Members of Parliament

For More Information contact:

World Health Organization, 21 A and B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road, Freetown
Phone: 232-22-233565, +232-76-777878;
E-mail: whosl [at] sl.afro.who.int,
Website www.whosierraleone.org