African Parliamentarians committed to urgent action to increase immunization rates and advance universal health coverage.
The commitment came when they planned to establish African Parliamentarian Caucus on Immunization on Thursday in Midrand, South Africa.
The aim of the Caucus is to drive forward the body’s commitment to ensure that all children across the continent have access to the vaccines they need.
Expanding access to immunization will help lay the foundation for universal health coverage across Africa, said Roger Nkodo Dang, President of the Pan-African Parliament.
Universal health coverage has gained significant political momentum across Africa in recent years, he added.
The President highlighted that political commitment for investing in immunization is at an all-time high.
The high cost of disease outbreaks across the continent in human suffering and economic damage needs urgent collective action, said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa.