Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: The African Union Commission (AUC) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase access and accelerate the uptake of life-saving vaccines across Africa.
The agreement envisaged increase access and accelerate the uptake of life-saving vaccines across AU member states towards supporting immunization, providing technical and learning assistance and health systems strengthening, the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) — AU’s specialized healthcare agency has disclosed.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the AU Commission Chairperson by the AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) Minata Samate Cessouma and Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya, and Gavi CEO Seth Berkley, it was noted.
The partnership builds on the historic Addis Declaration on Immunization (ADI), which aims to ensure that everyone in Africa – regardless of who they are or where they live – receives the full benefits of immunization. It includes 10 commitments to increase political, financial and technical investments in immunization programs.
The evolving direction of this partnership is bound to accelerate the attainment of health security as premised in the AU Agenda 2063 and the New Public Health Order (NPHO), it was noted.
“Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Knowing they are prone to preventable life-threatening diseases, we – current leaders – must do all it takes to protect and secure their future. I am well-pleased with the growth of the partnership between the AUC and Gavi, which I am certain will accelerate reducing the number of zero-dose children worldwide by 2030,” the statement quoted Cessouma as saying.
Kaseya, on his part, said in September 2022, the AUC and Africa CDC launched the New Public Health Order, which offers insights and a roadmap towards health security on the continent.
He said the collaboration of the AUC and Gavi will further relate to Africa CDC-led initiatives for vaccine uptake in AU member states, as well as support investments in the goal to locally manufacture 60 percent of the vaccine doses required on the continent by 2040.
Gavi’s Berkley said as an Alliance of governments, partners, civil society, industry and others, Gavi has a longstanding commitment to support access to life-saving vaccines through sustainable immunization programs, and to collaborate with countries to strengthen health systems across Africa.
“This MoU is the strengthening of our shared determination to protect more children against vaccine-preventable diseases and to help realize the AU’s vision for sustainable vaccine manufacturing and the New Public Health Order on the continent,” the statement quoted Berkley as saying.
As part of the signed MoU, AUC and Gavi commit to work together to scale up and strengthen routine immunization, focusing on reaching “zero dose” children – children that have not received a single dose of a routine vaccine; build sustainable regional vaccine manufacturing in Africa; undertake joint advocacy to boost vaccine demand for routine vaccines; as well as strengthen primary health care systems and bolster diagnostic and surveillance capacity for diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, and typhoid.
The accord also include communicating jointly on routine immunization, pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, vaccine access and delivery, it was noted.
The AUC and Africa CDC, in April 2021, established the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) to steer a bold goal that will enable the African vaccine manufacturing industry to develop, produce, and sustainably increase supply, from less than 1 percent, currently.
Photo — A nurse prepares to vaccinate a child against malaria at the Malava County Hospital, Kakamega, Kenya. Credit: Gavi/2021/White Rhino Films-Lameck Orina
