Country-Level Parliamentary Caucus for Sustainable Health Financing and Immunization Establishes Momentum in Sierra Leone

A significant development in strengthening Sierra Leone's health system was marked by the inaugural meeting of the Country-Level Parliamentary Caucus for Sustainable Health Financing and Immunization, convened by Health Alert Sierra Leone. The caucus's formation, funded by GAVI through the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), aims to mobilize domestic support for health and immunization financing in Sierra Leone. Ten Members of Parliament from various committees, including Health, Finance, Gender and Children's Affairs, and Agriculture, are part of the caucus. The group reviewed and discussed the Terms of Reference (TOR) that will guide its operation and effectiveness.

Key Takeaways:

• The Country-Level Parliamentary Caucus for Sustainable Health Financing and Immunization aims to mobilize stronger domestic support for health and immunization financing in Sierra Leone, as outlined in its Terms of Reference.
• The caucus comprises 10 Members of Parliament from various committees, including Health, Finance, Gender and Children's Affairs, and Agriculture.
• Victor Lansana Koroma, Executive Director of Health Alert Sierra Leone, emphasized that the initiative stemmed from a recent international engagement in Turkey, where the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) meeting, funded by GAVI, led to the formation of parliamentary caucuses to promote health and immunization in participating countries.
• The caucus will play a critical lobbying role engaging both Government Ministries and development partners to prioritize funding for primary healthcare and immunization.
• Dr. Gibril Njie, Health Economist and Health Financing Specialist, highlighted that the country still owes a backlog of its co-financing commitment, which calls for concerted efforts to be addressed.
• The caucus will also focus on increasing domestic funding allocation for immunization and addressing challenges such as vaccine procurement and zero dose children.
• The goal is to influence policy and budget processes in favor of increased financing for health and immunization.

Statistics:

• Sierra Leone has missed the African Union health funding target of 9 percent in 2025, highlighting the need for the caucus to engage in aggressive campaign to achieve its goal.
• The country has a backlog of co-financing commitment to GAVI, which needs to be addressed.
• The caucus aims to increase domestic funding allocation for immunization and address vaccine procurement challenges.

Sources:

• "Health Alert Sierra Leone takes significant step to strengthen country's health system," Health Alert Sierra Leone.
• Dr. Gibril Njie, presentation at the inaugural meeting of the Country-Level Parliamentary Caucus for Sustainable Health Financing and Immunization.