Group photo of the Health Minister and Permanent Secretary Acting and Director Reproductive Health together with the GAVI Mission team to SI and WHO representatives.
GAVI MISSION TEAM PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO HEALTH MINISTER
A mission team from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, paid a courtesy visit to Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Morris Toiraena, and Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Gregory Jilini, on 15 October to discuss national immunization priorities and future support for Solomon Islands’ immunization programme.
The Gavi mission team comprised Mr Leo Karrer, Senior Country Manager for Solomon Islands at Gavi; Mr Timur Cherikov, Programme Manager for Solomon Islands at Gavi; and Ms Charlene Barina, Focal Point for Health Systems and Immunization Strengthening.
The mission provided an opportunity for the Government of Solomon Islands and Gavi to review national immunization priorities and agree on their implications for Gavi 6.0 Holistic Cash Grant planning and the development of funding applications.
The mission aimed to provide a platform for the Government of Solomon Islands and Gavi to review national immunization priorities and agree on their implications for Gavi 6.0 Holistic Cash Grant planning and application development.
Discussions focused on programme implementation, financial management and accountability, health workforce requirements, equity, operational feasibility, domestic resource mobilization, and the long-term financial sustainability of immunization services.
The mission concluded with agreed actions, responsible leads, and indicative timelines to guide the completion and management of the Gavi-supported portfolio, as well as the development of the holistic funding application.
Minister Toiraena acknowledged and thanked Gavi for its continued partnership and support to Solomon Islands’ health sector, particularly in strengthening immunization services across the country.
“The Government of Solomon Islands highly values the longstanding partnership with Gavi, which has played a significant role in strengthening our national immunization programme and protecting the health of our children. We remain committed to working closely with our partners to ensure that every child, family and community, regardless of where they live, has equitable access to safe and life-saving vaccines. Together, we can build a healthier and more resilient future for our people,” said Minister Toiraena.
Leo Karrer, Senior Country Manager for Solomon Islands, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Solomon Islands in achieving its immunization goals and strengthening its health system.
“Gavi is pleased to continue its strong partnership with Solomon Islands as we work together to improve immunization coverage and strengthen health systems. The discussions during this mission provide an important opportunity to align priorities, identify solutions to existing challenges, and ensure sustainable investment in immunization services that reach every child and community, he said.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Gavi remain committed to advancing equitable, sustainable, and high-quality immunization services to improve health outcomes for all Solomon Islanders.
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About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organisations that fund Gavi’s work here.
Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 1.2 billion children – and prevented more than 20.6 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 78 lower‑income countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningococcal and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation, above all the zero-dose children who have not received even a single vaccine shot. The Vaccine Alliance employs innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency.
Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube.