First Ladies’ Statement:
Addis Declaration on Immunization
For 20 years, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) has made it our purpose to support better health outcomes across Africa. Together, we’ve tackled some of the continent's most pressing health challenges, ranging from fighting HIV/AIDS pandemic to supporting maternal and child health – All to protect the health and well-being of African children, youth and women.
But, now, the COVID-19 pandemic has set back significant progress made on these urgent priorities. Already, disruptions to essential health services have meant that the number of children receiving life-saving vaccines in Africa has sharply declined, jeopardizing efforts to bolster childhood immunization and protect communities.
OAFLAD is committed to advocating for better integration of essential services, like immunization and efforts to address malnutrition. Children who are malnourished are significantly more likely to die from infectious diseases, which can be prevented by immunization. On the other hand, children who are borderline nourished will fall into malnutrition if they contract a vaccine preventable disease.
To tackle this situation, we, African First Ladies and OAFLAD members, are bringing our united voice in support of the Addis Declaration on Immunization to protect Africa’s most susceptible citizens: our children. We want to leverage our unique positions to advocate for policies that make immunization and health services accessible to children everywhere, regardless of where they live.
As OAFLAD celebrates its 20th anniversary, our organization is more devoted than ever to using our continent-wide leadership to enact change on critical health priorities, including child health.
Strategic objective under the focus area: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH), underlined in the OAFLAD strategic plan is the reduction of neonatal and Child mortality. Strategies developed to meet the strategic objective include: Advocacy and resource mobilization on improving routine immunization coverage and Community mobilization to promote demand for routine immunization for children under 5 years
Our countries have already recognized the importance of this issue; by signing the Addis Declaration on Immunization and Immunization Agenda 2030, we have taken critical steps toward guaranteeing vaccination for all. Now is the time to double down on these efforts.
Today, we commend President Sall’s Forum on Immunization and Polio Eradication in Africa, and call to remobilize action around commitments made in the Addis Declaration on Immunization:
Addis Declaration on Immunization Commitments
Keep universal access to immunization at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality
Increase and sustain domestic investments and funding allocations for immunization
Address the persistent barriers in vaccine and healthcare delivery systems, especially in the poorest, vulnerable and most marginalized communities
Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of immunization delivery systems as an integrated part of strong and sustainable primary health care systems
Attain and maintain high quality surveillance for targeted vaccine preventable diseases
Monitor progress towards achieving the goals of the global and regional immunization plans
Ensure polio legacy transition plans are in place by end-2016
Develop a capacitated African research sector to enhance immunization implementation and uptake
Build broad political will for universal access to life-saving vaccines
Promote and invest in regional capacity for the development and production of vaccines
