Faced with the persistent threat of diphtheria in the northern region of Gabon, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with the financial support of the Japanese government, a major donation to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday. This gesture is part of the strengthening of the national response against this highly contagious infectious disease, the resurgence of which worries the health authorities.
This region, a border of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, recorded in 2023 at least three deaths of children caused by diphtheria, a dramatic assessment attributed in particular to a low vaccination coverage estimated at only 61 % according to data from the extended vaccination (PEV). An alarming context which motivated a rapid and targeted action of inter-national partners with the Gabonese government.
The donation, worth 270 million CFA francs, includes a set of essential medical equipment: 33,600 doses of pentavalent vaccines, 120,000 doses of diphtheria tetanus vaccine, 153,600 self-locking syringes, as well as 4,250 safety boxes for the elimination of biomedical waste. A crucial logistical support that will effectively respond to the epidemic outbreak and anticipate possible resurgence.
For the Gabonese Minister of Health, Adrien Mougougou, this initiative represents “a concrete and beneficial response to a real health emergency”. He praised “The constant commitment of UNICEF and the exemplary solidarity of the Japanese people”, while emphasizing the importance of permanently strengthening the capacities of the Gabonese health system.
The UNICEF representative in Gabon, Dr. Marie-Reine Chirezi Fabry, said that ” Prevention goes above all through routine vaccination, which remains an essential pillar for children’s survival and well-being “. The UN official insisted on the need to build a lasting and inclusive multisectoral response to eradicate the disease.
Beyond the donation of Matéliel, the project also includes the training of 100 health workers on early detection and the management of diphtheria, the installation of solar refrigerators to ensure the cold chain, as well as a large vaccination campaign targeting nearly 82,000 children in the most exposed areas.
This tripartite partnership between Gabon, UNICEF and Japan illustrates a common desire to strengthen the resilience of the national health system and to protect the most vulnerable, in particular children. “UNICEF remains alongside the government to protect each child,” reaffirmed the representative of the UN agency.