With one in five African children lacking
access to all needed and basic life-saving vaccines, ministers of health and
other line ministers countries committed themselves to keep immunization at the
forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality, morbidity and disability.
At a landmark Ministerial Conference on
Immunization in Africa held from 24-25 February, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the
ministers signed a declaration
to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against
vaccine-preventable diseases and to close the immunization gap by 2020. The
conference, which was hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional
Offices for Africa (AFRO) and the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) in conjunction
with the African Union Commission (AUC), was the first-ever ministerial-level
gathering with a singular focus on ensuring that children across the continent
can get access to life-saving vaccines.
“Our children are our most precious resource, yet one in
five fail to receive all the immunizations they need to survive and thrive,
leaving millions vulnerable to preventable disease,” H.E. Dr. Kesetebirhan
Admasu, Minister of Health for Ethiopia. “This is not acceptable. African
children’s lives matter. We must work together to ensure the commitments we
make in Addis Ababa translate into results.”
A new report issued at the
conference paints a mixed picture on vaccine access, delivery systems and
immunization equity in Africa. Routine immunization coverage has increased
considerably across Africa since 2000, measles deaths declined by 86% between
2000 and 2014, and the introduction of new vaccines has been a major success.
However, one in five children still do not receive all of the most basic
vaccines they need, three critical diseases—measles, rubella and neonatal
tetanus—remain endemic, and many countries have fragile health systems that
leave immunization programs vulnerable to shocks.
Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization to be presented
to African Heads of State
In June 2016, His Excellency Hailemariam
Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, the host country for the conference, will
present the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization to the African Heads of
States at the 26th Summit of the African Union. Support from heads
of state will further empower countries to increase efforts to mobilize
resources for national immunization programs.
The declaration commits countries to
increasing domestic financial investments in order to deliver routine
immunizations and roll out new vaccines. The economic benefits of immunization
are proven to greatly outweigh the costs, with recent research showing the
benefits of preventing illness and lost productivity to be 16 times greater
than the required investment in vaccines.
“We all agree that vaccines are one of the most
cost-effective solutions in global health. Investing in immunization programs
will enable African countries to see an outstanding economic benefit,” said Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Gavi Board and former Finance Minister of
Nigeria. “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.”
As Ministerial Conference closes, new momentum builds for
countries to prioritize immunization
The Ministerial Conference convened hundreds of political
leaders, technical experts and advocates from across Africa and globally. The
conference offered African policymakers and advocates a platform to celebrate
progress toward expanding immunization coverage; discuss strategies for
tackling the biggest challenges facing vaccine efforts; foster country
ownership for sustainable financing for immunization; and advocate for greater engagement with all stakeholders to ensure
sustainable demand for immunization.
“The Ministerial Conference achieved its goal of uniting
leaders from across Africa behind the single goal of reaching every child with
the vaccines they need,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for
Africa. “Now, we will carry this momentum forward from Addis Ababa, stay
accountable to our commitments and close the immunization gap once and for
all.”
“With the right mix of political will, financial
resources and technical acumen, Africa is positioned to make an incredible leap
in immunization coverage,” said Dr. Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the
Eastern Mediterranean. “Today is a first step in a journey that will take us to
the last mile to reach every child with the vaccines they need.”
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