The Africa Union Commission invites all member states of the Africa Union to observe the 2020 World Immunization week being observed under the theme “Vaccines work for All’. The World Health Organization campaign places focus on vaccines and on the people who develop and deliver vaccines, particularly nurses and midwives.

 

Africa Union Heads of State and Government, in 2017, adopted decision on Universal Access to Immunization as a cornerstone for Health Development in Africa (Assembly/AU/Dec.624 (XXVII). Recognizing that investments in immunization will position Africa, to benefit from new opportunities of its young population, and called on its member states to ensure and facilitate universal access to immunization, by allocating adequate domestic resources, and securing new investments to strengthen national immunization programs. 

 

Without vaccines, vaccine preventable diseases diseases like Cholera, Diphtheria, Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus, Measles, Meningitis, Polio, Pneumonia, Rabies, Rotavirus, Rubella, Tetanus, Typhoid and Yellow Fever could surge and continue to cause significant serious illness, disability and death.

 

The Department of Social Affairs has sustained advocacy for access to vaccinations and strengthened and sustained immunization programs, by member states of the Union,  through its initiatives that include the Campaign for the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA)(Assembly/AU/Decl.2(XXIII) , biannual reports on the Status of Maternal, Child and New-born Health, data collection on immunization from member states which is accessible on platforms that include the AfricaHealthStats and CARMMA websites and  the yearly observation of Africa Vaccination week in a member state in close partnership with WHO and Gavi.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that a pandemic in one country threatens the world. Universal access to Vaccines and strengthened immunization services, remains a cornerstone for health and development and investing in health is a shared responsibility that requires global solidarity for the World Health Organization and global initiatives such as the GAVI Alliance. 

 

Further information should be directed to:

Dr. Margaret Agama-Anyetei, Head of Division for Health, Nutrition and Population; Social Affairs Department; AU Commission; Tel: +251115162211; E-mail: Agama-AnyeteiM@africa-union.org

 

For further media inquiries, please contact:

 

1. Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Information Division, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Tel: +251(0) 911361185 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

2. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org