President John Dramani Mahama has been making significant strides in advocating for the Gavi Vaccine Alliance’s replenishment efforts ahead of the global pledging session in Brussels, Belgium.
As a prominent advocate and ambassador for Gavi, President Mahama’s presence at the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunization underscores the importance of global cooperation in providing fair access to vaccines, particularly in lower-income countries.
In preparation for the summit, President Mahama held crucial bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, including:
– Gavi Board Chair, José Manuel Barroso: Mr. Barroso expressed gratitude for President Mahama’s consistent support for Gavi’s vaccine replenishment efforts and highlighted the alliance’s anticipation of his advocacy at the pledging session.
– Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: As a co-host of the summit, Mr. Gates likely discussed ways to galvanize support for Gavi’s ambitious 2026-2030 strategy, which aims to immunize an additional 500 million children, save over 8 million lives, and protect against up to 150 disease outbreaks.
Gavi’s Impact and Objectives
Since its establishment in 2000, Gavi has achieved remarkable success, including:
– Reaching over 1 billion children* with life-saving vaccines
– Preventing over 18.8 million deaths
– Generating over $250 billion in economic benefits for lower-income economies
The upcoming pledging session is critical in securing vital support for Gavi’s next phase, which promises to deliver significant economic benefits and protect millions of lives.
As a seasoned advocate for equitable healthcare access, President Mahama has emphasized the importance of fully funding Gavi, citing its potential to save millions of lives, unlock significant economic potential, and strengthen global health security.
His involvement in vaccine advocacy dates back to 2013, when he actively supported Gavi’s mission to expand access to life-saving immunization for children worldwide ³.
