The Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Dr. Sania Nishtar, has commended President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone for his global leadership and strong advocacy for immunization.
Dr. Nishtar made the remarks during a meeting with President Bio on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
She praised the President for his instrumental role during Gavi’s last replenishment summit, disclosing that the alliance has raised about 10 billion United States dollars since the Brussels summit.
She described Sierra Leone as a regional leader in immunization and expressed appreciation for President Bio’s commitment to vaccine equity, sustainable health financing, and the strengthening of immunization systems.
Dr. Nishtar thanked the President for Sierra Leone’s continued partnership with Gavi.
President Bio, in response, expressed gratitude to Dr. Nishtar and the Gavi Board for their continued collaboration, noting that the partnership has attracted millions of dollars in health investments into Sierra Leone.
He said Gavi’s support has been critical in sustaining high routine immunization coverage and controlling vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.
The President highlighted improvements in routine immunization rates, the introduction of new vaccines for children and adolescents, investments in health infrastructure, and Sierra Leone’s effective response to COVID-19 and Mpox.
He noted that the country has maintained over 90 percent coverage for the DTP3 vaccine, a key indicator of health system performance.
President Bio also shared plans to launch a “300 Days of Activism” initiative focused on maternal, newborn, and child survival, describing it as a major presidential priority aimed at further strengthening health outcomes in Sierra Leone.
