African ministers pledge to improve access to vaccines
African Ministers of Health and other high level officials have committed themselves to improve access to immunisation to reduce child mortality, morbidity and disability on the continent.
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In a declaration signed by over 40 ministers and other officials at the landmark Ministerial Conference on Immunisation in Africa held from February 24-25, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, they pledged to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases and to close the immunisation gap by 2020.
The conference, which was hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Offices for Africa (AFRO) and the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) in conjunction with the African Union Commission (AUC) was also attended by Ministers of Finance, Education, Social Affairs, and Local Governments.
It will be presented to the African Heads of States and Governments at the 26th Summit of the African Union, to be held in June 2016.
The declaration honours the progress toward expanding immunisation coverage, recognising the remarkable achievement of interrupting wild poliovirus transmission for more than one year on the continent; achieving near elimination of Meningococcal meningitis A epidemics, and the significant reduction in disease burden and mortality due to measles.
Domestic funding
It further commits countries to increase domestic financial investments in order to deliver routine immunisations, roll out new vaccines and strengthen vaccine delivery systems.
The leaders also committed to building broad political will, working with communities, civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, health professional associations and parliamentarians, for the right of every child and every community to have universal access to life-saving vaccines, and by extension the best possible chance for a healthy future.
In addition, they declared to promote and invest in regional capacity for the development and production of vaccines in line with the African Union Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan including the strengthening of national regulatory authorities.
Vaccine manufactures
The Health Ministers called upon member states and partners, to negotiate with vaccine manufacturers to facilitate access to available vaccines at affordable prices, and on Gavi, the vaccine alliance to consider refugees and internally displaced populations as eligible recipients of Gavi support for vaccines and operational costs.
They also called for support from member states and partners, including African development banks and African regional economic communities, “towards the implementation of this Declaration, and to increase their efforts to mobilise resources and secure new investments to strengthen national immunisation programmes.”
Speaking to the press after the conference, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa said the declaration will be an inspiration for countries to invest additional resources in their own health systems.
Life-saving vaccines
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Gavi Board stated that Gavi was committed to working with African countries to implement immunisation programmes and sysytems.
“If we can ensure that all African children can access life-saving vaccines, no matter where they are born, we will have a golden opportunity to create a more prosperous future for communities across our continent,” she said.
Dr Ala Alwam, the WHO Director for Eastren Meditteranean region described the declaration as a turning point for immunisation in Africa.
“I am confident we will achieve our goal of immunisation and children of Africa will no longer die of diseases preventable by immunisation,” Dr Alwam added.