The Key to Africa's Vaccine Sovereignty

Dec 8 , 2024
By Nana Akufo-Addo

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Africa is on the cusp of a profound economic transformation. The population boom in sub-Saharan countries, which is expected to increase the number of Africans from 1.4 billion today to 3.3 billion in 2075, holds the potential to trigger rapid GDP growth and raise living standards across the continent.

My country, Ghana, aims to be at the forefront of these developments. But our ability to capitalise on the demographic dividend hinges on one critical factor: the health of our citizens. We are seeking to form strategic international partnerships that help us improve health outcomes, stimulate economic growth, and deliver broadly shared prosperity.

This raises a fundamental question: What does an equitable strategic partnership between African countries and the Global North look like?

Historically, development aid for vital health projects in the developing world, though well-intentioned, has often been uncoordinated and unsustainable, focusing on short-term crises rather than addressing the systemic problems that cause them. Over the past two decades, African countries have been laying the groundwork to sustain their health systems entirely through domestic resources. Recent trends suggest that partnerships between the public and private sectors are key to expanding access and achieving true health self-sufficiency.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a case in point. Since its founding in 2000, this international partnership has helped African countries immunise nearly a half-billion children, halve mortality rates among children under five, and generate tens of billions of dollars in economic benefits by improving educational outcomes, boosting productivity, and dramatically reducing healthcare costs. These positive effects on African countries' health and economic performance are the starting point.

Sustainable, inclusive income growth could enable countries like Ghana to diversify their economies and foster more stable societies. It could also help us retain talent, as more people choose to build their futures here instead of searching for economic opportunities abroad. A thriving Africa would benefit our trading partners, contributing to a stronger, more resilient global economy.

The immediate benefits of strategic health partnerships are obvious. The rapid purchase and deployment of mpox vaccines over the past two months show that key lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic have been learned, as new emergency financing mechanisms – established through continent-wide efforts and supported by international partners – have boosted vaccine equity and bolstered health security.

New initiatives to expand domestic vaccine manufacturing create an invaluable opportunity to meet Africa's growing demand and achieve vaccine sovereignty. While international partnerships are essential for supporting long-term growth, our ultimate objective remains self-reliance. In 2023, African governments contributed more than 200 million dollars to Gavi's immunisation programs, a historic milestone. With the Global South now providing 40pc of the funding for Gavi's routine activities, many countries, including Ghana, are on track to fund their immunisation efforts independently by the end of this decade.

But, if Africa is to achieve full vaccine sovereignty, Gavi should secure at least nine billion dollars for the next five years. The importance of this support is evident in Ghana, where our partnership with Gavi has reinvigorated the fight against malaria – a longstanding scourge – and will soon help protect young women from cervical cancer for the first time by expanding access to the HPV vaccine.

One of the strengths of Gavi's model is its capacity to harness and scale private-sector innovations, enabling governments in the Global South to vaccinate more children, provide quality healthcare, and cut costs. Gavi's financial and logistical support in Ghana has helped us integrate technological advances such as digital record-keeping, solar power, drone delivery, and infant biometric identification into our health system.

As partners, we have achieved remarkable progress together. Stepping back now would jeopardize our hard-won gains. A healthier, safer, prosperous, and more equitable future is within reach. By deepening our collaboration, we can achieve it.

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PUBLISHED ON Dec 08,2024 [ VOL 25 , NO 1284]

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