Faced with the gradual withdrawal of international funding, the Ivorian government is strengthening its financial commitment. Pierre Dimba, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, announced a major increase in the national contribution for vaccination: it will rise from 231.5 to over 259.2 billion FCFA over the period 2026-2030.

A strategic shift towards autonomy

This announcement, made on May 7, 2026 in Abidjan during the meeting on the "Abidjan Declaration," marks a decisive step. For the government, vaccination is no longer seen as a social burden, but as a strategic investment in human capital.

The objective is clear: to compensate for the decrease in subsidies from the Gavi Alliance (Gavi 6.0 strategy) linked to the country's economic growth. Since 2001, Gavi has injected more than 320 billion CFA francs into the Ivorian system, but the country must now manage its own healthcare destiny.

Successes to consolidate, challenges to overcome

While the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is showing encouraging results, the picture remains mixed:

1. The victories: No wild poliovirus and continued elimination of neonatal tetanus. Measles coverage in Abidjan remains stable without any major outbreaks.
2. Areas of concern: Traces of poliovirus persist in wastewater and coverage of the new malaria vaccine remains insufficient as the rainy season approaches.

Call for the mobilization of local elected officials

Minister Dimba and Dr. Brou Gbotto, coordinator of the PEV, challenged the mayors and members of parliament of the District of Abidjan on a striking paradox: the metropolis of 7 million inhabitants has only 174 vaccination sites out of the 3,200 in the country.

"Local elected officials must make vaccination a priority in their municipal plans," the minister stressed, urging mayors to facilitate access to land for the construction of new local centers.

Towards a national mobilization

With estimated needs of 238 billion FCFA by 2029 , the government is now calling on the private sector and local authorities to take over. The challenge goes beyond mere logistics: it aims to reduce the number of children receiving no doses and to correct disparities in access to healthcare in urban areas to guarantee equitable protection for every citizen.