Brazzaville
29 August 2001

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization - Lunch Address

Dr Nafo-Traoré, 

Dr Samba, 

Ministers, 

Colleagues,

It is a pleasure to attend this Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization luncheon in Brazzaville; especially since the Alliance is now up and running and making a difference in people’s lives, in Africa and around the world.

For this we must thank the myriad of participants who have selflessly given their time and energy in the creation, implementation and running of GAVI. These include the board, the working group, the secretariat and the wider network of GAVI partners including national governments, research institutions, donors and the partner agencies at the country level.

We know from experience that immunization is one of the most cost-effective health interventions available. Access to effective immunization saves lives and contributes to the well being of all societies.

During the 1980s the proportion of the world's children immunized with six antigens for common childhood illnesses rose dramatically. But, during the 90s, some countries experienced stagnation and some even had setbacks in their efforts to strengthen their immunization programmes. In addition, the world's poorest and most vulnerable people were not able to access the newer cost-effective vaccines such as hepatitis B.

Two years ago we came together to respond to this challenge - to contribute to poverty reduction and the well being of disadvantaged societies. We looked for a better way to respond to the needs of children and to increase their access to immunization.

I believe we have found one.

We brought together governments, private entities, NGOs and UN agencies around the best available evidence.

We put countries at the centre of our work.

We mobilized new investment and new and innovative ways for this investment to reach the people who most need it.

We did not micromanage the process and we did not create unnecessary work for national authorities. Instead, we used best practices within the specifics of country situations.

We broke new ground and pioneered new principles.

Last year we invited the 74 poorest countries to submit proposals to the GAVI Secretariat. Before the end of last year financial support started to flow and vaccines started to reach countries at the turn of the year. To date 54 countries have responded, 36 countries have been approved and the fund has made commitments amounting to US$ 600 million dollars over the next five years.

What has made GAVI’s success possible?

GAVI and the Vaccine Fund had one exceptional early commitment of funding of US$ 750 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

This commitment turned a fledgling initiative into a serious player. The early confidence and commitment of the Gates family was a catalyst for additional support from the Governments of the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, the United States and others.

A firm substantial multi-year commitment gave GAVI the freedom to move quickly and streamline procedures. It enabled us to go straight from the launch to the distribution of money for vaccines. The longer-term perspective and commitments have stimulated countries to undertake multi-year planning.

We resisted pressures to make the GAVI process comprehensive, complex and laborious. We avoided high transaction costs. And we kept decision making at the country level and recruited locally.

GAVI is a model for new initiatives, including the nascent Global Fund for AIDS and Health. It demonstrates that global partnerships do not need large secretariats to administer their activities.

Colleagues,

Of the 74 countries eligible for support from the Vaccine Fund, 36 are in Africa. And of those 36 countries, 19 countries have already been approved for GAVI support including Tanzania, Liberia, Madagascar, and Mozambique.

Of course, being approved for support is the first step. Once approved, the important work is still ahead, namely strengthening health systems so that more children will be immunized. And since GAVI is operating under a principle of performance-based grants, countries will have to work hard to achieve tangible results, and document their success over time.

We have seen great success, but there are also several challenges at the country level.

We need:

• To better utilize immunization support services.

• To further strengthen national and interagency co-ordination.

• To strengthen political and social mobilization efforts especially around the central importance of investing in health.

• To introduce new and underused combination vaccines.

• Effective operation of health systems - even in situations of severe under-funding.

• Effective, fast and transparent mechanisms for moving money to where it is needed, and spending it effectively and efficiently.

Last, but not least, we must:

• Help eligible countries that have not been approved to receive GAVI assistance. I implore those countries to seek the help they need so that they will be considered for this vital funding.

Your leadership is needed to take the work forward. Together, we can reach the target of vaccinating at least 85% of all African children.

Thank you.