Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Tuesday, 3 February 2026 – Dr. Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, lauded President Julius Maada Bio for his outstanding global leadership in promoting immunization during a fruitful meeting on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai.
Dr. Nishtar expressed her gratitude to President Bio for his instrumental role at last year’s replenishment summit, announcing that Gavi has successfully raised $10 billion since the Brussels summit. She praised the President’s unwavering commitment to vaccine equity, sustainable health financing, and the strengthening of immunization systems.
“Your country is a regional leader in immunization. We owe you a lot of gratitude for all that you have done for GAVI. Thank you for your partnership,” stated the GAVI CEO.
In his remarks, President Bio warmly thanked Dr. Nishtar and the GAVI Board for their steadfast collaboration, which has resulted in the investment of millions of dollars in Sierra Leone. He emphasized that Gavi’s support has been crucial in maintaining high routine immunization coverage and effectively controlling vaccine-preventable diseases.
Highlighting the achievements made possible through Gavi’s partnership, President Bio noted improvements in routine immunization rates, the introduction of vaccines for children and adolescents, investments in health infrastructure, and a strong national response to COVID-19 and Mpox. “As you are aware, Sierra Leone has successfully maintained over 90% coverage for the DTP3 vaccine, a key benchmark for health system performance in the region,” he proudly affirmed.
Additionally, President Bio shared plans with Dr. Nishtar to launch a “300 Days of Activism” focused on maternal, newborn, and child survival, as a presidential priority.
