Global Lead Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccination Delivery in Guinea-Bissau

Bissau, July 26^th, 2022 – Mr. Ted Chaiban, the Global Lead Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership (CoVDP), is in Guinea-Bissau for an official two-day visit. As part of his visit, Mr. Chaiban will meet the national authorities to discuss strategies to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Guinea-Bissau, building on the good progress that has already been made in recent months, with the country increasing its full vaccination coverage rate from just 1.2% in January to 17.4% in July from the overall population, and to 26% of the target population.

Mr. Chaiban has been meeting with other high-level Government officials, development partners, health care professionals, NGOs and CSOs and other key stakeholders during his visit.

In advance of his visit to two health care centres in Cuntum and Bairro Militar, Mr. Chaiban said:

“I commend the Government of Guinea-Bissau for the progress that has been made in recent months to accelerate vaccination coverage. The targeting of high-priorities groups, including health care and other frontline workers, teachers and security forces is a strong example of good practices that will help us protect the health and lives of people.”

Mr. Chaiban stressed that the pandemic is far from over and that the risk of new variants, especially in under-vaccinated populations, remains high. “COVID-19 is still with us and we need to ensure that we protect those most at risk. Community and religious leaders will be critical to sustain demand for vaccines and also for booster shots which are vital to ensuring people stay protected against new variants over time. The vaccine is our best protection against COVID-19.”

Mr. Chaiban was appointed as CoVDP Global Lead Coordinator, at the level of Assistant Secretary-General, in February 2022 by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.