WHO Working To Strengthen Vaccine Research Capacity In Africa
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
World Health Organisation, WHO, says between 2000 and 2022 it has reduced annual measles deaths by 76%, with an estimated 19.5 million averted over the 22 years since it embarked on measles control efforts.
World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti who noted that the region has seen a dramatic decline in deaths caused by meningitis by up to 39% from 2000 to 2019 reminded Member States of the ten commitments made in the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization, and endorsed by their Heads of State in 2017.
The declaration, represents a shared commitment by African governments to strengthen immunization programmes and accelerate progress towards achieving universal access to vaccines.
In a message in commemoration of the African vaccination week, Dr Matshidiso, commended Member States, health workers and communities for their unwavering commitment to advancing the health and well-being of citizens through delivery of vaccination services to all eligible populations.
The Regional Director for Africa called for collaboration across sectors and borders towards the 2030 target, and to forge a path towards a healthier continent where all children and adults are assured of receiving life-saving vaccines.
She said the Expanded Programme on Immunization, launched in 1974 by WHO, has grown in leaps from the initially targeted six diseases (diphtheria, measles, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, and whooping cough) to 14 vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Regional Director, said, efforts are underway, to strengthen vaccine research capacity in Africa and Member States are increasing investments to advance vaccine development in Africa.
Accorsing to the Regional Director, the rollout of the malaria vaccine in Africa is a significant development in the fight against this deadly disease and has led to the launch of a regional initiative: Accelerating Malaria Vaccine Introduction and Rollout in Africa (AMVIRA).
This introduction of the malaria vaccine in all countries, Dr Matshidiso says, will become a game changer as it has the potential to significantly alter the malarial disease landscape with new tools to complement existing preventive and control measures.