Press Release
WASHINGTON – IMA World Health has won a grant from the Osprey Foundation to fund faith-based approaches to ensuring COVID-19 vaccine equity in Africa that will result in more shots in arms to help prevent further spread of the disease and the emergence of new variants.
The two-year “Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Equity through Faith-based Networks in Africa" (COV-FaB) project will be implemented in collaboration with IMA’s longtime African health network partner – the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP).
COV-FaB will strengthen targeted Christian Health Associations (CHAs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe, with the objective of advancing COVID-19 vaccine demand and delivery through their expansive rural health facility networks, which reach overlooked, last-mile communities.
Throughout the project and with IMA’s technical support, ACHAP will work with the CHAs to close gaps in service delivery by microplanning alongside the respective ministries of health, engaging faith leaders as "champions" for vaccine uptake, and mobilizing communities to offer support for vaccine outreach programs.
Moreover, IMA will also partner with Internews to help ACHAP officials develop evidence-based media and communications strategies to support training of local health journalists, improving science-based journalism and avoiding disinformation, particularly in reporting on COVID-19 and vaccine efficacy.
Simultaneously, the project intends to help strengthen capacity throughout the ACHAP network, mainly focusing on preparedness for future health emergencies.
This is the latest on a long list of projects IMA World Health has undertaken to strengthen the capacity of local partners and faith-based or other health systems serving marginalized communities in Africa.
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ACHAP is a regional organization providing a platform for Christian health networks in Africa, whose local members include hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, pharmaceutical supply organizations, and nurses’ training institutions. ACHAP brings together more than 40 national-level faith-based networks providing health services through faith-based health facilities and programs in 32 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. The organization is focused on sharing resources, establishing technical working groups (TWGs), and providing its members with ongoing training and technical assistance (TA).
IMA World Health is an international NGO operating in fragile settings along with communities and governments to overcome public health challenges. Founded in 1960, IMA World Health works in concert with Corus International, a family of faith-based organizations delivering holistic, lasting solutions to the interconnected challenges of poverty, health care access, and climate change.