The adoption of the Declaration on Universal Access to Immunization in Africa by heads of state at the 28th African Union (AU) Summit has been hailed by health experts.
If the Addis Ababa declaration is followed to the letter, health experts say, Africa could achieve universal access to immunisation.
The “Addis Declaration on Immunisation”, they said, is a historic and timely pledge to ensure that everyone in Africa – regardless of who they are or where they live – receives the full benefits of immunization.
The declaration calls upon countries to increase political and financial investment in their immunization programmes. It contains 10 commitments, including increasing vaccine-related funding, strengthening supply chains and delivery systems, and making universal access to vaccines a cornerstone of health and development efforts.
In a statement, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa, said vaccines are among the most effective public health tools available, adding that when children are given a healthy start, communities thrive and economies grow stronger.
According to Dr Moeti, the show of support from African heads of state is a significant step forward in the campaign to achieve universal access to immunization and, ultimately, improve child health and drive sustainable development across Africa. Fewer than 15 African countries, excluding Uganda and many eastern Africa countries, fund more than 50 per cent of their national immunization programmes.
Dr Ala Alwan, the WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said: “as long as even one child in Africa lacks access to immunization, our work remains unfinished.”
Dr Alwan added that with the right mix of political will, financial resources and technical acumen, Africa can – and will – stem the tide of vaccine-preventable diseases across the continent.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the chair of the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said African leaders are showing outstanding leadership by endorsing this landmark commitment which will allow more children to be reached with life-saving vaccines no matter where they live.
According to Dr Okonjo-Iweala, leaders must now ensure that the commitments translate into sustainable financing for immunization. Dr Okonjo-Iweala added that Gavi stands ready to support African countries to implement equitable health approaches and maintain strong immunization coverage.
Speaking at the adoption of the declaration, the outgoing chair of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said universal access to immunization is achievable, noting that the Addis Declaration on Immunization is a historic pledge.
She said with political support at the highest levels, it is getting closer than ever to ensuring that all children in Africa have an equal shot at a healthy and productive life.
While Africa has made impressive gains over the last 15 years toward increasing access to immunization, progress has stagnated, and the continent is falling behind on meeting global immunization targets.
One in five children in Africa still does not receive basic life-saving vaccines, and, consequently, vaccine-preventable diseases continue to claim too many lives. Measles alone accounts for approximately 61,000 preventable deaths in the African region every year.
The Addis Declaration on Immunization was signed by ministers of health and other line ministers at the Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa (MCIA) in February 2016 in Addis Ababa.
The conference was the first-ever ministerial-level gathering with a singular focus on ensuring that children across the continent can access life-saving vaccines.