Improving access to immunisation in Africa

Remarkable efforts have been made in making immunization more accessible in the world. However, the fact that one out of five children misses out on vaccination proves that there's a lot that needs to be done. Anuradha Gupta, Deputy CEO of GAVI, Vaccine Alliance, recently discussed ways to improve vaccination rates, especially in Africa, where millions of infants are still not reached with routine immunization services. Gupta emphasized the importance of addressing challenges in fragile and conflict-affected countries, where 50% of undimmunized children reside. GAVI has successfully bridged the gap between the public and private sectors, ensuring universal access to affordable vaccines and healthcare commodities. Gupta highlighted the need for focusing on hard-to-reach children living in remote areas, urban slums, and conflict zones. The alliance is working closely with governments to identify bottlenecks and prioritize resources for these marginalized populations. While progress has been made in immunization coverage, there's still a significant gap in reaching the last 20% of children. GAVI's intervention aims to address these disparities and improve immunization rates across Africa. The conversation also delved into the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a region already grappling with various challenges. Gupta stressed the importance of taking a holistic approach to tackle the Ebola crisis, considering the broader development issues faced by affected communities. Building trust between the government and communities is crucial in implementing effective interventions. The lack of trust hinders the response efforts and creates barriers to controlling the epidemic. While vaccines play a vital role in combating Ebola, community engagement and behavior change are equally essential. GAVI and its partners are working to overcome these challenges and ensure that interventions are effectively adopted by the community. Overall, the interview with Anuradha Gupta shed light on the critical work being done to improve immunization access in Africa and address health disparities in conflict-affected regions. By leveraging partnerships between the public and private sectors and focusing on marginalized populations, GAVI aims to enhance vaccination coverage and support healthcare systems in underserved communities.