MedAccess, a social finance company established by CDC to increase patient access to life-changing medical supplies in Africa and South Asia, announced a one-year extension to its $50 million procurement guarantee for UNICEF.
The original partnership between the two organisations was established in July 2020. The extension will support UNICEF’s response to ongoing country demand for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 essential supplies.
Demand for COVID-19-related medical supplies remains high, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where countries are battling a severe spike in infections. UNICEF plays a central role in the procurement and distribution of COVID-19 supplies to countries worldwide, as well as leading efforts on the procurement and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the COVAX Facility.
Syringes purchased by UNICEF using MedAccess support have been used in Ghana, where the first vaccinations were made using the COVAX Facility. To date, COVAX has shipped more than 32 million doses to 70 countries.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted UNICEF’s vital role in increasing and accelerating access to essential supplies in underserved communities,” said Hema Srinivasan, MedAccess’ Chief Access Officer. “Our guarantee extension will support UNICEF to continue its important work, responding to urgent country needs on COVID-19 and for other lifesaving supplies.”
Formed in 2017, MedAccess has extended financial guarantees to improve access to health products including access to HIV viral load testing and next generation anti-malaria bed nets in sub-Saharan Africa.
