Geneva, 22 May 2013 – Developing countries are
set to make over 50 introductions of life-saving vaccines into their national
immunisation programmes this year, GAVI CEO Dr Seth Berkley informed World
Health Assembly representatives on Wednesday.
Left to right: Mariame Sy, First Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Senegal, Professor Dorothée Gazard, Ministry of Health for Benin, Dr Seth Berkley, GAVI CEO, Helen Evans, GAVI Deputy CEO
In a wide-ranging technical briefing on GAVI support, jointly hosted by GAV and the
Government of Senegal and attended by more than 200 high-level representatives
from developing countries, Dr Berkley underlined the global acceleration in the
Alliance’s efforts to ensure all the world’s children have equal access to the
benefits of immunisation.
This year, thanks to GAVI funding, over 600 million vaccine doses are scheduled for distribution in developing countries.
Endgame
Dr. Berkley also presented GAVI’s country-tailored approach to introducing new
vaccines, as well as its complementary approach to the Polio Eradication and
Endgame Strategic Plan. He also explained how market-shaping activities are
helping GAVI secure lower vaccine prices for eligible countries.
Participants were informed of recent changes in GAVI's health system strengthening (HSS) cash support, which is designed to help overcome barriers in the health system that stand in the way of universal access to immunisation.
“The new HSS applications will have to demonstrate a focus on immunisation outcomes and they will have to be more results driven,” said Dr Berkley, “We have also simplified our grant application and monitoring review as well as our
partnerships agreement to have greater country ownership, better alignment and
more transparency”.
New vaccine investment strategy
Looking ahead, Dr Berkley invited his audience to answer a questionnaire to help guide GAVI’s new vaccine investment strategy which will determine which new additional vaccines GAVI will support for countries after 2015.
“This is critical for GAVI” said Dr Seth Berkley. “It is a really important exercise as we want to better support you. Together we will demonstrate results and that a sustainable business model is possible.”
Voices on immunisation
Snapshot of what the leading voices in
immunisation were saying about their experiences of rolling out new vaccines at
Wednesday’s technical briefing.
Senegal is one the GAVI eligible countries
that has been really dynamic in introducing vaccines, strengthening health
systems, investing in injection safety and waste management. This year we will
also ask for further GAVI support with rotavirus vaccines, against one of the
leading cause of diarrhoea, as well as to introduce human papillomavirus demonstration
projects and measles second dose.
Mariame Sy, First Counsellor at the Permanent
Mission of Senegal, on behalf of the minister of Health and GAVI Board member, Dr
Awa Marie Coll Seck
Thanks
to GAVI, there has been major improvement in our countries. Many of us have
launched recently new vaccines and we are constantly building and strengthening
our health systems. I want to thank GAVI, its CEO and staff for their support
in enabling us to reach the Millennium Development goals and go beyond this
target date. No child should die of vaccine preventable disease.
Professor Dorothée Gazard, Minister of Health of Benin
The
immunisation chain has never been broken in spite of the crisis the country
went through.
Côte d’Ivoire representative
Bangladesh emphasised the role of vaccines and GAVI
support in ensuring it was on track to achieving MDG 4 and 5 on reducing chid mortality
and on protecting mother’s health respectively.
Tanzania shared its experience in last year's historic
simultaneous introduction of two vaccines, pneumococcal and rotavirus.
GAVI
wants to work better with the countries, with you. Today is an opportunity to
engage and share your challenges.
Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance
