A Vaccine Alliance, Amref Health Africa, and Gavi Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Steering Committee have announced a new partnership to inculcate civil society to deliver on Gavi’s ambition to leave no one without immunization.
The announcement builds on the momentum created by a Gavi Board-approved initiative to support and empower civil society organisations and communities which are to identify and reach underserved and missed communities.
Requirements
This includes a requirement for all countries supported by Gavi to allocate at least ten per cent of their combined Health System Strengthening, Equity Accelerator Funding and Targeted Country Assistance, for activities undertaken by CSO partners.
The decision makes Amref Health Africa the first organisation located in a lower, middle-income country to host the CSO platform.
Group Chief Executive Officer, Amref Health Africa, Dr. Githinji Gitahi says “Civil society organisations play an essential role in supporting communities and health systems, and Amref has been at the core of working with different governments to increase sustainable health access to communities that would otherwise miss out on these essential services,”
This also presents the opportunity to include beneficiary communities and their representatives in the design and implementation of immunization policies and programs.
Deputy CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Anuradha Gupta says “We are counting on Amref and civil society partners to help us strengthen political commitment and accountability, build trust in vaccines, and support the delivery of immunization services so that no one is left behind.”
Amref’s hosting appointment is effective from January 1st 2022 for a period of three years ending 2024.
Olusola Akintonde
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